by Maria Suzanne Plana | Negosentro.com |
It is that time of the year again for sharing laughter, having good food, and singing happy songs of praise. Holidays is the season of joy but it is not all smiles for everyone. In fact, there is this phenomenon called the holiday blues when some people feel gloomier throughout the season due to unrealistic expectations and lack of time for oneself.
Here are three ways to help you overcome the stress of holiday blues:
1. Plan
Planning your way out of the holidays is one of the most effective ways to beat the holiday blues. As social beings, we need to find the perfect balance of activities to keep ourselves busy enough to avoid feeling sad. Have too much workload, and you might find yourself drowning in too much responsibilities instead of enjoying the season of smiles. That being said, do not over-plan social gatherings, too much social activities might end up wearing you down in the long run. Meanwhile, having too less of things to do may trigger more time to contemplate over your insecurities so do not let yourself be alone for too long.
2. Lower expectations
During this season, we tend to expect too much from other people and ourselves which could trigger holiday blues because disappointments oftentimes lead to sadness. Since it is the season of joy and sharing laughter, you plan things, schedule to reconnect with our loved ones, and give love to others. Hence, you expect other people to return the favor and expect your plans to always work out. And when they don’t, you reevaluate yourself to the point where you wallow over your shortcomings. To avoid this, lower your expectations, give unconditionally, and know that life will not always be sunny so better prepare for the worst.
3. Recharge
Lastly, do not forget to give yourself a break. For some of us the holidays is our only escape from our daily corporate lives, so don’t forget to make time for yourself. Before giving out to others, start prioritizing yourself. Take this time to make up for lost of sleep and me-time. Cuddle up, read your favorite book, or watch your favorite show while eating your favorite comfort food. It is not bad to shut off the world when it needs you out there the most.
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