How to Combat Holiday Blues

The other day a close friend of mine told me that she misses her ex-boyfriend. I was surprised to hear her say this. The two have them have been broken up for years and he was certainly not the best match for her. When I told her of my surprise, she responded, "Maybe it's just the time of year making me lonely." Now that I could understand! Because, Baby, it’s cold outside. Mix that with obligatory celebrations and gift exchanges and add a dash of family dynamics and three tons of New Year's kiss anticipation, let it all boil together for approximately thirty days and voila! You’ve got a heaping plate full of good old-fashioned December disappointment. Even the cheeriest folks can feel a little out of sorts this time of year, and while you may not feel like your brightest self in these dark days, you can work to infuse the holiday blues with a little comfort and joy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

How to Combat Holiday Blues

1. Move slowly. It may seem antithetical during this hustle and bustle time of year. After all, the streets are crowded and the calendar is booked. We’ve got lots to do and little time to do it. Unfortunately rushing from thing to thing only adds to our feelings of discontent. Slow down this month. Observe the speed limit. Stop to enjoy lights on houses. Order your eggnog latte “for here” and have a seat while you sip. Observe and bask in your actions this month instead of frantically racing through everything like a jet-powered Psycho Claus.
2. Talk about your blues. It doesn’t matter if you are married, single, poor, rich, close to your family or disgusted with your family, it seems nearly anybody can get down in December. Depression pervades like pollution and we’re all inhaling the tainted air. Simply saying, “I feel crappy,” and hearing another say, “I feel crappy, too,” can lift a weight from your psyche knowing you aren’t alone.
3. Shift your focus from expectation to enjoyment. One reason some of us feel so down this time of year is that we expect so much. Try to shift your focus from expecting things to unfold like a dream and simply enjoy things as they unfold as reality.
4. Go easy on libations. Alcohol is a depressant not only for your body, but also for your spirit. While drink or two (or three or more!) may momentarily take the edge off and help celebrating feel more festive, beware that the alcohol’s depressing effects may permeate your next several days.
5. Retreat inward. Like it or not, winter insists upon self-reflection. In the arts winter is often a symbol of death, of solo journeys, of bleak desperation. It may not be pleasant, but it is a worthy endeavor to go inward and sit with some of your sadness. You may be experiencing internal “deaths” as you prepare-- emotionally and physically--for the new beginnings of 2008. Take time to mourn another year flown by.
6. Hibernate. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, these are literally the darkest days. Soak in the bath a little longer. Read your book for a few extra chapters. Crawl into bed a little earlier. Light candles. Build a fire. Sip tea. Cozy in. And remember, it’s okay to stay home on weekends and pass on any parties that feel more like work than pleasure.
7. Find genuine joy. Instead of filling your plate with overwhelming obligations, limit yourself to perform only acts that uplift you. If the cranky in-laws are coming for a visit, find a way to entertain that leaves you feeling energized rather than depleted. If you have to give gifts, make sure to give only what you can afford instead of stretching beyond your means with the help of credit cards. If what you’re about to do evokes a feeling of dread, stop immediately and reevaluate. Come up with creative solutions and insist upon acting from inspiration--as opposed to desperation--this month.