It does happen...
Can happen for you.
There are many factors that can cause
the depressed, stressed, agitated,
fatigued, down and out feelings we can get during the holidays. In order to resolve and overcome the holiday blues, you need to know what are for you and ways your respond to the stress. It’s important to pay attention to your specific issues, situations and those holiday circumstances. Discover if you tend to focus on how upset you are or are you focusing on ways not to feed those feelings.
Ways the Holiday Blues can happen to us at a time of family joy?
Fatigue
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Depression or the Blues Financial limitations
Family tensions
Unrealistic expectations
• • • • • •
Holding on to memories of Xmas past and disappointment unable to
recreate it as it was.
Depending on how responsible you feel for creating and maintaining the holiday spirit, providing gifts, making dinner, being peace maker. You will be more susceptible to being discouraged and depressed during the holidays.
Here are some behavior patterns to check out. Are part of your behavior?
Producers: Overextending trying to do too much. Taking responsibility on yourself to make sure it happens. Involved in so many activities than you can financially or physically managed. Taking on more than you know in good or healthy.
The way to stop is to catch yourself when you do and then do this. #1. Learn to say no.
#2. Unafraid to stop whatever is not good for you.
#3. Make time for you and do not feel guilty.
Expect-ors: People should know what I need and do what I need. Be aware of setting yourself up for self pity, anger, or depression because your expectations are not met.
Codependent: If it’s not right it’s my fault. Know you are not responsible for other’s happiness. Your worth and significance is not based on what you do or what others think.
Partiers: Those who need to go to each and every party and each activity. Many times these parties do not satisfy and leaves the person unfulfilled and with a feeling of emptiness. Learn to say NO to some of these activities. Allow some personal down time to reflect on what’s going on with you
Loner: They are the ones who would rather be alone than deal with family or friend issues. Or even face the issues that come up for themselves around the holidays.
•
Fight the Blues Find the Joy at Xmas Time
Chose your focus: Notice. Think on the blessings in your life, the things that are going right. Think about the experiences that cause you to feel good about yourself. Express your gratitude. Find a way to show it.
Set realistic goals.
Be honest with yourself about what you can do during the holiday’s. Be clear as to what the holidays mean to you. Is it about family and togetherness or something else?
Then, courageously notice when those memories of deceased love ones and those strained family dynamics arise and affect your mood. Be willing to see them and your reaction to it. Don’t let them become more than the joy to be found in the present.
Let go of the past.
Meaning not feeling disappointed if your holidays aren’t what they used to be. Embrace the future and don’t dwell on the fact that the good old days are gone. There are memories to be created this Xmas.
Pay attention to who you’re spending your time without, are they uplifting or do they sap your energy? Are they pressuring you to be more than you can.
Watch out for those holiday expectations.
Notice those coming from you. Those coming from friends and family and being sure to make choices with you in mind.
Do what you can and not dwell on what you can’t.
Don’t feel pressured to feel happy and to think the family interactions will be all positive
Don’t let the pressures of shopping, socializing, family issues, and missing lost love ones overwhelm you.
Delegate: Don’t try to do it all yourself. Let or get others be involved, too. Doing something for others is the best antidote to the pity party.
Letting others do for you will allow them to feel needed too.
Give yourself a break. Don’t take responsibility for all that goes wrong or does not happen as you or your family expects.
Get Moving: Exercise releases those natural chemicals in your body which causes you to feel energized.
Get plenty bright light during the day at home and at work.
Never skip a meal.
Eat healthy. Relax. Rest.
Spend some time alone but, don’t isolate yourself. Talk with, be with your love ones, friends and other people. Just try time for yourself. Away from the stress and expectations of the holidays.
When you feel yourself getting a little anxious, take a breather.
Find a quiet spot to relax recharge your batteries. Think thru what you are doing, have to do, feel up to doing as you evaluate you next move. Don’t forget to breathe in that moment of frustration.
Concentrate on the natural beauty around you,
Take a walk, taking time to notice nature and the beauty within in it. As you walk focus on your breath.
Notice its stillness, it will help you to relax and not fret.
Fill your mind with gentle thoughts of the beauty you see in life.
Take time to reflect. Meditate on love. Open you heart and think on love. On the different ways you give and receive love. When that time arises and you are feeling down. Allow the memory of a recent loving experience to fill you and remind you. Feel it. acknowledge it accept it... you are worthy of being loved and that someone loves you.
Look forward to each day.
Refuse to be lonely.
Taste new experiences. Do something new and different. Walk your talk. Chose to feel hopeful, loved, and at peace. Be persistent as you move forward. Do it till you feel it.
Give in to the Xmas spirit. You get what you put in.
Lois Kincy
Can happen for you.
There are many factors that can cause
the depressed, stressed, agitated,
fatigued, down and out feelings we can get during the holidays. In order to resolve and overcome the holiday blues, you need to know what are for you and ways your respond to the stress. It’s important to pay attention to your specific issues, situations and those holiday circumstances. Discover if you tend to focus on how upset you are or are you focusing on ways not to feed those feelings.
Ways the Holiday Blues can happen to us at a time of family joy?
Fatigue
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Depression or the Blues Financial limitations
Family tensions
Unrealistic expectations
• • • • • •
Holding on to memories of Xmas past and disappointment unable to
recreate it as it was.
Depending on how responsible you feel for creating and maintaining the holiday spirit, providing gifts, making dinner, being peace maker. You will be more susceptible to being discouraged and depressed during the holidays.
Here are some behavior patterns to check out. Are part of your behavior?
Producers: Overextending trying to do too much. Taking responsibility on yourself to make sure it happens. Involved in so many activities than you can financially or physically managed. Taking on more than you know in good or healthy.
The way to stop is to catch yourself when you do and then do this. #1. Learn to say no.
#2. Unafraid to stop whatever is not good for you.
#3. Make time for you and do not feel guilty.
Expect-ors: People should know what I need and do what I need. Be aware of setting yourself up for self pity, anger, or depression because your expectations are not met.
Codependent: If it’s not right it’s my fault. Know you are not responsible for other’s happiness. Your worth and significance is not based on what you do or what others think.
Partiers: Those who need to go to each and every party and each activity. Many times these parties do not satisfy and leaves the person unfulfilled and with a feeling of emptiness. Learn to say NO to some of these activities. Allow some personal down time to reflect on what’s going on with you
Loner: They are the ones who would rather be alone than deal with family or friend issues. Or even face the issues that come up for themselves around the holidays.
•
Fight the Blues Find the Joy at Xmas Time
Chose your focus: Notice. Think on the blessings in your life, the things that are going right. Think about the experiences that cause you to feel good about yourself. Express your gratitude. Find a way to show it.
Set realistic goals.
Be honest with yourself about what you can do during the holiday’s. Be clear as to what the holidays mean to you. Is it about family and togetherness or something else?
Then, courageously notice when those memories of deceased love ones and those strained family dynamics arise and affect your mood. Be willing to see them and your reaction to it. Don’t let them become more than the joy to be found in the present.
Let go of the past.
Meaning not feeling disappointed if your holidays aren’t what they used to be. Embrace the future and don’t dwell on the fact that the good old days are gone. There are memories to be created this Xmas.
Pay attention to who you’re spending your time without, are they uplifting or do they sap your energy? Are they pressuring you to be more than you can.
Watch out for those holiday expectations.
Notice those coming from you. Those coming from friends and family and being sure to make choices with you in mind.
Do what you can and not dwell on what you can’t.
Don’t feel pressured to feel happy and to think the family interactions will be all positive
Don’t let the pressures of shopping, socializing, family issues, and missing lost love ones overwhelm you.
Delegate: Don’t try to do it all yourself. Let or get others be involved, too. Doing something for others is the best antidote to the pity party.
Letting others do for you will allow them to feel needed too.
Give yourself a break. Don’t take responsibility for all that goes wrong or does not happen as you or your family expects.
Get Moving: Exercise releases those natural chemicals in your body which causes you to feel energized.
Get plenty bright light during the day at home and at work.
Never skip a meal.
Eat healthy. Relax. Rest.
Spend some time alone but, don’t isolate yourself. Talk with, be with your love ones, friends and other people. Just try time for yourself. Away from the stress and expectations of the holidays.
When you feel yourself getting a little anxious, take a breather.
Find a quiet spot to relax recharge your batteries. Think thru what you are doing, have to do, feel up to doing as you evaluate you next move. Don’t forget to breathe in that moment of frustration.
Concentrate on the natural beauty around you,
Take a walk, taking time to notice nature and the beauty within in it. As you walk focus on your breath.
Notice its stillness, it will help you to relax and not fret.
Fill your mind with gentle thoughts of the beauty you see in life.
Take time to reflect. Meditate on love. Open you heart and think on love. On the different ways you give and receive love. When that time arises and you are feeling down. Allow the memory of a recent loving experience to fill you and remind you. Feel it. acknowledge it accept it... you are worthy of being loved and that someone loves you.
Look forward to each day.
Refuse to be lonely.
Taste new experiences. Do something new and different. Walk your talk. Chose to feel hopeful, loved, and at peace. Be persistent as you move forward. Do it till you feel it.
Give in to the Xmas spirit. You get what you put in.
Lois Kincy