Holiday Blues?
The holidays are a time of the year when people are often with their families. We get a chance to reflect on our lives and loves and how they grew throughout the year. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve can feel hectic without warning. This can also be a time when some of us feel empty, isolated, and alone. This is more typical than you realize. Sometimes, expectations get built up, and we have emotional baggage that we have not unpacked. Despite feelings of helplessness, there are ways we can all combat the Holiday Blues, and we can do this starting immediately.
Understanding the Holiday Blues
The holiday season can paradoxically be a time of loneliness and introspection for many. It can often be seen as the busy season for most therapists. High expectations, memories of past holidays, and the pressure to feel joyful can exacerbate feelings of sadness or isolation. Recognizing these emotions as a common experience is the first step toward managing them.
Coping Skills for the Holiday Blues
- Acknowledge and validate that something is wrong and try to figure out what that elusive “thing” is. A quick way to get a sense of what is missing is to ask yourself the following question; “What has to happen for me to feel happy right now?” This question takes you down a rabbit hole where you can REALLY examine where you want to go and if you are ready for that to happen.
- Do something for yourself that you have been putting off for a while. Think back to those things that make you feel whole in your life. It could be something small such as a manicure, massage, doctor’s appointment, etc. Do something that indicates that YOU are a priority for YOU.
- Closely examine the people in your life and the energy they bring in. People carry with them an emotional energy that can be contagious. There may be people who drain you, and we want to be aware of who they are even if we can’t get away from them. We also want to counteract negativity by being around positive people who are uplifting and who make you feel good when you are with them.
Take The First Step
These three key steps are just the beginning of your journey towards peace, love, and joy.
As you move through the holidays, tweak your expectations of yourself and of others in your life. It is okay to take breaks BEFORE you get overwhelmed. When we wait to address emotional issues, we often speak from an angry place. You can set boundaries for yourself and defend your boundaries with others.
Holiday Blues and Mental Health
Boundaries are healthy patterns that we create in our lives to protect and nurture ourselves. We can reject what you think the holidays should be. We can reject commercialism or mainstream frames. Create your own traditions in an intentional and meaningful way. Recognize the value in your life and live that value today. The holidays are less about what others push onto you and more about solidifying YOUR vision for YOUR life.
As Lao Tzu once said, “The longest journey begins with a single step.” Did you take your step today?
Holiday Blues and the Holistic Store
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