Beating Holiday Blues: Top Tips from the Experts

Sharon Moore December 03, 2015

Tis the season to be jolly. We’ve come to the last month of the year and we are just a few weeks from the Boxing Day and Christmas. But while most people are anticipating for the Holidays and excited to plan out and make the celebration extra special, some are experiencing feelings of sadness and isolation. And psychologists call it holiday blues.

So how do you beat holiday blues? We’ve got some great tips for you.

Expect a little less.

One easy way to feel disappointed over the holidays is to make a fairy-tale expectation of it. While holidays are supposed to be but fun and wonderful, expecting that they will go smoothly isn’t realistic. There could be a lot of stressors along the way. Think about the heavy traffic going to the gift shops. The tiring feeling of having to cook a lot of food. And of course - the possibility of going over the budget. Making realistic expectations for the holiday is not being pessimistic. In fact, it helps you plan ahead and prevent potential mishaps that may come your way.

Focus on things you can control.

Some things are way beyond our control. You probably heard that one of your friends will be throwing a party but you weren’t invited. Your initial reaction would most likely to feel rejected. Or you may have received so many invites for holiday parties but you just want to stay at home, enjoy a movie, and relax while you have the time. Things don’t always turn out as we expect them to be. And that’s a fact of life. What we can do to feel better is to focus on those that we can control instead.

Limit your use of social media.

Many people feel blue during Holidays for so many reasons. You could be missing someone you love and can’t be with them this year. Maybe the holiday reminds you of a negative experience in the past. Or it could be that you don’t enjoy it too much because you are far from your friends and family. If you feel blue thinking about the holiday season, going to social media may not be good for you. Loneliness or loss can feel more debilitating as we see happy photos and statuses of other people on social media. Several studies have shown that people who use social media more often are more prone to feeling lonely. Always remind yourself that whatever you see on social media is just a ‘glimpse’ of someone else’s life and not necessarily represent their life.

Say ‘no’ if you have to.

There are people who really can’t get in to the holiday spirit no matter how hard they try. And the more they try, the worse they feel. It is absolutely okay to say ‘no’ to an invitation, a party, or any other activity if you really feel like you can’t do it. Spend the time instead to do something you really enjoy doing.

Stay mindful.

The most important tip is this: practise mindfulness. Focusing on the present moment and savouring each positive moment as they come is a great way to improve your mood and beat the holiday blues. Acknowledge the fact that most things in life are a mixture of good and bad. So switch off your worries. And always think that there’s always something good bound to happen, no matter how bad the situation you are in right now.