“…a lot of people would say that the holidays are the worst time of the year,” says Ken Duckworth, MD, medical director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “They’re just straight up miserable, and that’s not only for people with clinical depression.”

If Dr. Duckworth’s words ring true for you, consider the following hints to navigate your way through a happier holiday season:

Take care of yourself first. Identify the specific things, people or situations that trigger your holiday blues and avoid them. You are responsible for your own happiness. The only person you can change is yourself.

Focus on what brings you joy. Don’t push yourself to your limit trying to fulfill other people’s expectations. Exhaustion and worry benefit no one.

If past holidays have disappointed, change the pattern. Do something different. Create your own traditions.

Volunteer. Acts of loving kindness make far more impact than purchases.

Make a gratitude list. Literally count your blessings. Write it down, look at it and add to it when an additional joy comes to mind. The amount of goodness in your life may surprise you.

Enlist the help of those around you. Friends and family often enjoy lending a hand, but sometimes need to be asked. So ask them, and be specific. Let people know what you need and they’ll likely help provide it.

Honor the memory of loved ones who aren’t around anymore. Rather than mourn their absence, reflect on the goodness you enjoyed when together and celebrate the relationship that was.

Don’t overbook. Again, exhaustion benefits no one. Commit to parties that you really enjoy and have the time for; and then graciously decline other offers.

Create and stick to a budget. The cost of holiday shopping mounts quickly and can make people feel out of control and anxious. Never spend more than you have.

Exercise. While you may not feel like you have the time to exercise during the holidays, the benefits are

Eat sensibly. Healthful eating keeps you feeling better both physically and emotionally.

Wishing you blessings of the season.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 22nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm and is filed under Family, Hope, Mental Health, Wellness, Wisdom. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.