5 Tips to Manage Holiday Depression
With the holiday season just around the corner, many people tend to become overwhelmed by gift buying, planning, and too much family time spread over a short period of time. It’s become such a time of over-consumption in all senses of the word: buying too many gifts, eating too much food and spending too much “quality time”, that many people can’t wait until they close their eyes and wake up in 2021. However, the “most wonderful time of the year” doesn't have to be so difficult. With these 5 tips to manage holiday depression, you can prepare for the season both mentally and physically so that the holiday blues don’t get you down.
Set an intention for the day
When you wake up in the morning instead of grabbing your phone right away to check your WhatsApp messages, check in with yourself. Place your hand on your heart and your belly and breathe in and out. Check in with yourself and see how you’re feeling emotionally, physically and spiritually. Send yourself love and express gratitude, and then set an intention for the day. Maybe you want to call a friend who you haven’t spoken to in a while, or maybe you want to do an act of kindness for a stranger. Whatever it is that makes you happy, connect with that and make it happen throughout the course of the day. Starting your day in this positive way is better than any anti-depressant.
Don’t overindulge
When the holidays come around, many people say goodbye to the diets and hello to extra kilos. Instead of overindulging why not indulge consciously? For example, think about the holiday dinner with your colleagues, of course there will be a lot of food, and not all of it healthy, so instead of feeling bad about eating too much, think you can only consume so much and still feel good. If you had to choose one thing extra to consume, would you prefer an extra sweet or an extra savoury option. Instead of choosing to overindulge in both, choose the one that makes you feel the most satisfied.
Plan ahead
Holiday time can get busy, so plan ahead and try to space out your obligations. Yes, the work dinner is one of those obligations you usually can’t choose when it is, neither can you move around the classic 24th, 25th and 31st celebrations. But, dinner with your friends you can choose. Why not plan it in early December so all the festivities don’t get all crammed in at once. Since there are only so many weekends in December, by planning ahead you can space out the different obligations and plan events on the weekends when you don’t have to get up early. Getting a good night’s sleep is important for combatting holiday stress.
Take care of your own mental health with meditation and yoga
In addition to setting an intention, having a meditation and yoga practice is key to keeping a positive outlook and keeping from falling into a holiday-invoked depressive state. Studies show a direct correlation between exercise, meditation and well-being. Plus, the endorphins that get released after a yoga class, which some people experience as a “yoga high” can help keep you positive and not resent all the different holiday obligations. Taking care of your mental health with a weekly meditation and yoga practice helps remind you that your first obligation is to yourself and your own wellbeing.
Gift an experience rather than a physical gift
Having to think of gifts for all your family members can be a big source of stress. Instead of choosing a gift for each of your immediate family members, establish a no gift-giving policy. Instead, gift each other an experience. Experiences are a way of spending time together doing something fun or taking a trip together that has way more value than a pair of shoes that will wear out eventually. Why not take a trip to Salento, and stop in At the Aia, where you can recharge together from the holidays and take part in yoga and cooking classes, get acupuncture and a massage, or simply read a book under the olive trees. Plus, it’s close by to different nature parks, perfect for decompressing and exploring under the warm Apulian winter sun.
Book now until December 15th for a stay At the Aia in January or February and get 10% off.