13 things to help you get thru the holidays
I
have 13 things that one can do to help ease the holiday blues...although
this list is primarily set up to deal with the blues surrounding
the Christmas holidays...you can easily change the items to meet
the needs of the other holidays where you enter into depression.
1.) Try to maintain a regular routine as much as possible. Eat
properly, get lots of rest, and exercise.
2.) Don't eat to many fatty, sugary foods. Replace food with food
for thought...eat before going to parties...
3.) Create a shopping list and stick to it. Bring only the cash
you need. Leave credit cards at home.... Take along a friend to
keep you in line. Remember buying is a temporary fix.
4.) Find free activities to enjoy------ Christmas light displays----sightseeing,
local concerts...
5.) Volunteer or help someone less fortunate.
6.) Make plans with others instead of waiting for them to call
you...
7.) Get a special gift for yourself...perhaps send yourself a
Christmas card.....
8.) Do something more productive than watching all those holiday
specials with ridiculously happy endings...TV families resolve
conflicts within an hour.... real families don't.......Than can
make you think you are a failure, which only intensifies the
sadness.
9.) Think differently about New years resolutions. of the
upcoming year...ask yourself How do I want feel in general? What
makes me feel productive? What relationships do I want to nurture?
10.) Plan something to look forward to in January
11.) Acknowledge your feelings.... Allow yourself to feel sad,
melancholy or lonely -- They're normal feelings during the
holidays........
12.) Put yourself in your children's or your grandchildren's
shoes...try to adopt some of their excitement.......Let them
remind you what's important......enjoying the moment, not trying
to meet everyone's expectations.........
13.) Step up your meetings if needed......the social outlet will
allow you to feel as though family is there......and you don't
have to go thru the holidays alone.......
Well that about covers for me what I do for the holiday blues....