Dealing with the holiday blues: What to do when you’re not in the mood to celebrate

woman leaning against the wall in bed

The holidays are a time for celebration, friends, family, and good times.

But what if you’re not in the mood to celebrate? What if the holidays have you feeling down?

If you’re feeling depressed during the holidays, it’s okay. Below, we will outline a few tips on how to deal with the holiday blues. We hope these tips will help you find some relief.

Prioritize self-care

Prioritizing self-care can mean taking a moment to meditate and set an intention for the day.

It can also mean taking time to do activities you find enjoyable and rewarding. Maybe that means going for a walk, writing a journal entry, or watching your favorite movie.

Whatever it is, make sure to schedule time for activities that make you feel good. That way, you can still enjoy the season without feeling overwhelmed. And if all else fails, be gentle with yourself and know that it’s perfectly okay to take a break from the buzz.

Know what you can and cannot control

You cannot control what other people say or do, how your family interacts, or how your friends celebrate. What you can control is how you respond to these situations.

If you find yourself getting stressed, take a step back and assess the situation. Respond with kindness instead of anger or frustration. If you can’t change the situation, change your response to it. This will help you maintain your peace of mind and stay positive.

Set boundaries for yourself and others
woman taking a phone call

Image Credits: unsplash.com

It can be hard to say no during the holiday season.

You don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, and you certainly don’t want to be perceived as a Grinch. But this is your time too, and you have a right to protect your mental health.

One way to do this is to set boundaries for yourself. Be clear when communicating with others, whether it’s friends, family, or coworkers. Let them know what your limits are, and ask them to respect them.

Feel free to decline an invitation or politely explain that you’re not feeling up to it. Be kind but firm in setting these boundaries. You don’t want to over-commit yourself and end up feeling crushed and stressed.

Take time to feel your emotions

It’s okay not to be okay. It’s okay to feel down and out during the holidays.

Acknowledge your feelings and give yourself time to process them. Don’t try to suppress your emotions, as this will only make them worse in the long run.

Take some time for yourself each day. During this time, you can do something that makes you happy or relaxes you. This can be anything from taking a warm bath, listening to music, or going for coffee.

If you are feeling down, there are still things you can do to make the holiday season enjoyable. You can spend time alone, do things you want, or find ways to make the season meaningful for you. Don’t let the blues keep you from enjoying the holidays on your terms.

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5 Ways To Return To Work And Combat The Post-Holiday Blues

Whether you like it or not, the Holiday Season is almost over.

After a substantial amount of time away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it is time to get back to your “normal” life. Gone are the few days of feast and serenity!

As you return to your regular routines at work, school, or home…you may feel stressed, uncomfortable, and disoriented. This unwanted feeling is called Post-Holiday or Post-Vacation Blues. However, with a bit of conscious planning and other strategies, you can actually ease back to normalcy without feeling its burden.

1. PLAN AHEAD

Instead of having the stress of last-minute preparations, it is best to come back from your overseas trip on Saturday instead of Sunday. The extra day will give you enough time to fix your things, to pick up a few essentials, and to browse your emails. Thus, it will lessen the impact and load of your “first” working day.

2. REVIEW YOUR CALENDAR

Since you have been away for quite some time, you will probably need to be reminded about what is going on. Regularly browse and mark your calendar for the next couple of days to stay updated with the upcoming projects, meetings, and other concerns. By doing so, you will be able to come prepared and avoid the embarrassment of being caught off guard.

3. CLEAN YOUR WORKSPACE

Upon entering your cubicle or desk, you may see stacks of unopened documents, scattered files, and untidy stationery items. Take a few minutes to take it all in. After which have a rubbish bin near you while you filter through the envelopes, emails, and files. Recognize what needs to be junked and what needs to kept. The earlier you complete this, the more time you have for other important tasks.

4. REMOVE DISTRACTIONS

To make your work as quicker and as efficiently as possible, you must remove all the unnecessary distractions such as electronic devices. Turn off your handphone and close your social media accounts for at least 20 minutes.

Use a productive writing tool such as Q10 to allow you to scribe without interruptions from your desktop clutter. Or you may install a free site blocking extension such as StayFocusd. With fewer or no distractions, use your time to focus on the task at hand!

5. SEEK HELP

In the early days of your transition, keeping up with your daily workloads may feel like a circus. Do not fret, as it is unavoidable. Ask for your co-worker or manager’s help. A well-staffed business should be more than capable to assist or even absorb your task.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Remember, you do not always have to do everything by yourself!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

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