Things You'll Need:
- Scissors and glue
- Pen and paper
- Books and movies
- Walking boots
- Bubble bath
-
Step 1
Keep busy. One of the easiest ways to bypass the holiday slump is to keep yourself entertained with creative and interesting activities. Read or begin writing a novel. Make collages from old magazines and send them out as greeting cards to your friends.
-
Step 2
Exercise. Studies have long shown that exercise helps ward off depression, holiday or otherwise. It also will make you feel good if you ate too much gingerbread. You don’t have to start bench pressing 500 pounds, but you can take a brisk morning walk through the neighborhood before anyone else is awake. Get some yoga or Pilates videos. Do something as simple as jumping rope.
-
Step 3
Have an escape route. Often it’s the gatherings—family or otherwise—that become the worst aspect of the holidays. Avoid them at all costs if that’s how you feel. If you must attend, always drive your own car or know the bus routes for a quick escape if you start to feel closed in. You can always use the excuse that you are not feeling well after eating all that cake or you have to go home to walk the dog.
-
Step 4
Avoid packed, scream-filled holiday places. This means no shopping malls, skating rinks or toy stores. Being surrounded by surging, screeching crowds is just going to make the whole holiday season more horrible.
-
Step 5
Pamper yourself. Take long bubble baths, fix a gorgeous meal, go get a massage. Make sure to spend time focusing on things that make you feel good. Concentrate only on that warm bath, fresh bite of prime rib or soothing rubbing down your back. Nothing else should matter.
-
Step 6
Write a gratitude list. This may seem like a tough task when you’re feeling down, but it’s just what you need to get your spirits back up. Pick at least 10 things for which you are grateful, or good things that happened during the past year. It need not be elaborate. Being grateful for your dog will do.
