Holiday Blues
Morgan Brittani
Hello, My Name Is Holiday Blues.
Holiday blues can come in many forms, but typically, it refers to a feeling of uneasiness, loneliness and stress that arises from the lack of routine, financial pressures, endless commitments and various family obligations and issues that arise during the holiday period.
Holiday Blues leads to…
1) Increased feeling of tiredness
2)Symptoms of burnout (see our previous posts!)
3) Lack of concentration
4) Irritability
5) Exhaustion
6) Bloating - a physical symptom
7) Feeling sad or depressed
When you are feeling Holiday Blues please…
1) Limit your alcohol intake - while this can be difficult around this time, limit yourself to one or two good drinks, and do not drink aimlessly. If you will be alone or without much company due to the pandemic the year, limit the amount of alcohol in your house. Drinking past a limit can exacerbate negative emotions.
2) Be open to new holiday traditions - especially this year, the holiday season will look different than previous years. Just because it is different, doesn’t make it bad! Make new traditions with yourself or family, and allow new traditions to unfold.
3) Learn to say no, and don’t feel pressured to accept every invitation (whether those be physical or digital). It is okay to take time to yourself.
4) Avoid overeating - whilst we all tend to indulge in delicious treats during this season, avoid eating to excess. A general feeling of sluggishness can then also trigger negative emotions. So by all means, indulge, but also remember to keep some balance in your eating.
5) Stick to a sleep schedule - try to go to bed and wake up at the same time (or close to it!) every day. This will help you to keep a sense of normalcy and routine in a time period which can be all over the place!
Source: Psychology Today ; Researcher: Devmi Epaarachchi