Keep a few tricks in your back pocket to cope with the holiday blues or prevent them altogether. Here are eight best practices.
1. Set Boundaries
Know that it’s okay to decline an invitation, leave the party early, or avoid difficult interactions at the family dinner. Pick boundaries that will help you prioritize yourself and take care of yourself, and stick to them.
2. Learn From Past Holidays
The holiday season comes around every year, so if it hasn’t gone smoothly in the past, it’s time to adjust, Duckworth says. For instance, you can commit to drinking less or minimizing interactions with family members you find problematic, he says.
3. Maintain Your Usual Routine
Try to stick to eating healthy meals rather than overindulging on sweets, and limit alcohol. Considering avoiding alcohol altogether if you’re feeling down. And prioritize following (or sticking as close as possible to) your typical routines when it comes to sleep, exercise, and taking time for yourself.
4. Talk Through Your Feelings
Whether it be to a close friend or a therapist, a good listener could be all it takes to help you feel better. And given that the majority of individuals experience some difficult feelings during the season, it’s likely that friends, family, or whoever you turn to will be able to relate to some of what you’re going through.
5. Limit Your Time on Social Media
Seeing all the cheerful moments shared by your family and friends can take a toll on your mental health if you feel your life doesn’t measure up, so limit your time spent scrolling.
And remember: Social media is a highlight reel and not always a true depiction of someone’s day or happiness level. Spend time with people you care about rather than letting social media make you feel low.
6. Stick to a Budget
Proactively determine how much money you can spend during the holiday season and don’t exceed it. This will keep you from feeling financial strain by staying within your means.
7. Focus on Realistic and Meaningful Expectations
Be realistic about what you can achieve and don’t feel like you need to do it all. “Consider the possibility that you’re doing okay, even if you’re not measuring up to some media-driven, commercial-driven ideal,” Duckworth says. Focus on what makes you happy.
8. Plan Ahead
Schedule stress-reducers, like exercise, during the season. And look further out, too. Consider scheduling a vacation or staycation, so you have something to look forward to once the season is over, Costakis says.
