Fighting the Holiday Blues

According to popular songs and folk wisdom, the holidays are "the happiest time of the year." In reality, the holidays can be stressful or depressing for many people. Here are some tips for keeping your spirits up.

• Stay Healthy
• Take Time for Yourself
• Maintain Good Relationships
• Release Your Emotions

Stay Healthy

• Eat healthy foods and drink healthy beverages. Getting the right nutrition can help prevent illness and improve your state of mind.
• Don't obsess about exercise or eating. Try to stick to healthy habits, but don't be too critical of yourself if you get off-track.
• Get enough rest and sleep. It's hard to fight depression when you're feeling tired or worn out.

Take Time for Yourself

• Plan self-care and personal time into your schedule. Spending some time on yourself can keep you from feeling overwhelmed.
• Don't forget playtime! Even adults need to relieve stress through recreation.
• Think about the meaning of life. Meditate, pray, or spend silent time paying attention to your inner life. Using "quiet time" to clear your mind can help reduce your stress levels.
• Have interests outside your primary career. Even enjoyable jobs can be stressful, and doing other activities will distract you from thinking about work.
• Take a vacation or time off. Spending time with family and friends is important. If you need more time for cleaning, shopping, or other holiday obligations, take a few hours off from work--giving your boss ample notice, of course!

Maintain Good Relationships

• Tell your family and friends how much you love them and care about them.
• Surround yourself with truly supportive friends who accept you for who you are and encourage your personal development.
• Seek positive relationships whenever you can. Don't let negative people add to your stress.
• Try not to judge others. If you judge others, you're probably also judging yourself.

Release Your Emotions

• Laugh and cry when you need to. Self-control can be a good thing, but holding in all of your emotions can add even more stress.
• Appreciate beauty. If the holidays are getting you down, look around for things to lift your mood.

Related Sites & Articles

• Can Nature Help Chase Winter Blahs Away?--University of Illinois Extension
• Grief During the Holidays
• Recipe for Surviving the Holidays With Family
• Seasonal Affective Disorder--American Academy of Family Physicians
• Signs and Symptoms of Depression
• Stress Management Series
• Stress Management Techniques

• Agriculture 
  • Aquaculture,
  • Citrus,
  • Crops,
  • Forest Resources,
  • Livestock,
  • Nursery & Greenhouse,
  • Organic,
  • Safety,
  • Small Farms,
  • Turf & Sod
• Environment
  • Ecosystems & Species,
  • Water,
  • Recreation,
  • Getting Involved
• Families & Consumers
  • Aging & Caregiving,
  • Children,
  • Food Safety,
  • Health & Nutrition,
  • House & Home,
  • Money Matters,
  • Relationships,
  • Workplace
• Lawn & Garden
  • Calendar,
  • Getting Started,
  • Maintenance & Care,
  • Plants & Grasses,
  • Problems,
  • Types of Gardens,
  • Industry Professionals,
  • A - Z Index
• Sustainable Living
  • Agriculture,
  • Environment,
  • Lawn & Garden,
  • Consumers,
  • Involved Citizens,
  • Government Issues,
  • Building & Construction,
  • Land Use & Development
• Disaster Prep & Recovery
• 4-H Youth Development