The Holiday Blues Are Everywhere: Here’s How Best to Avoid Them This Season

The holidays are once again upon us and, while they’re billed in a seasonal chestnut as “the most wonderful time of year,” most adults realize that sentiment needs to be taken with a hefty grain of salt. The crush of the crowds, the budget-busting cost of gifts, the extra labor involved in hosting holiday events – there’s nothing wonderful about all that.

Indeed, the holidays trigger just the opposite of joy for many people, as seasonal stress and the expectations of others foster feelings of inadequacy and depression. With more emphasis than ever post-pandemic on supporting social-emotional health, there can be no better time to pass on some basic steps people can take in the coming weeks to alleviate holiday-rooted anxiety and depression.

No Ghosts of Christmas Past: American society is notorious for placing all sorts of unrealistic expectations on us and these are often magnified by loved one’s during the holiday season. Don’t fall into that trip; instead, acknowledge that the holidays do not have to be perfect or even just like that last year, that as families change and grow their traditions and rituals must adapt.

Don’t Break the Bank: The most significant change in the American economy from last holiday season to this is skyrocketing prices, as the nation deals with inflation rates it hasn’t seen in four decades. Consumers must recognize the fact the dollar is simply not going to go as far this year and plan accordingly. Decide how much money you can spend this holiday season and stick to that budget. Don’t try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts.

Plan Ahead: Knowing when you’re doing what you’re doing is valuable year-round but never more so than during the holidays. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, connecting with friends and other activities. Plan your menus and make your shopping lists in order to avoid last-minute scrambling for forgotten ingredients. And make sure to enlist some help when it’s time for meal preparation and cleanup.

Stay Healthy: For many, overindulgence is as much a part of the holidays as opening presents. There are, however, plenty of reasons not to give in to that myriad of temptations, not the least being they can foster a sense of stress and guilt that only deepens your holiday depression. Strengthen your ability to shun overindulging by eating a healthy snack before holiday meals to avoid going overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks; get plenty of sleep and regular physical activity; and try deep-breathing exercises, meditation or yoga to enhance your sense of mindfulness.

Acknowledge Your Feelings: If you do find yourself at a low emotional point, the first step is to recognize and accept those feelings, to understand it’s OK to take time to cry or express yourself. Perhaps these are the first holidays since the death of a loved one or economic conditions are preventing you from visiting family. You can’t force yourself to feel happy just because it’s December.

At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.