8 Ways To Beat The Holiday Blues!

It's hard to tell when all the joyous merriment of the season tips over into a seemingly undue case of the blues. But the fact is, holiday blues are nearly inevitable. "Remember, holidays are often stressful. Holidays require more of us--more socializing, more shopping, and more running around," says Richard Shadick, PhD, Director of the Counseling Center and Associate Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Pace University.  "All of this can be taxing, so adjust your expectations and you won't be as disappointed if the holidays don't feel like great fun."

The best possible strategy for a happy holiday might surprise you: Experts say it's best to put yourself first. "My basic challenge for people during the holidays seems like the opposite of what we're supposed to do: focus on yourself," says Joshua Klapow, PhD, clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. "Even though you will do things for other people, you need to ask yourself if you really want to do it. That works for everything from buying gifts, eating foods, to traveling to seven parties. If you keep asking yourself that, it will help you strike balance." Here, eight ways to keep yourself on track-and out of the path of the blues-for the entire holiday season.

1.  Make a list and check it twice.

Don't channel your inner Santa. Instead, write down a list of everything you think you should do. "Don't leave anything off the list, all the shopping you want to do, cards you want to send, parties you're invited to," says Kaplow. "Now, read that list out loud. Ask yourself, 'Would any reasonable person think that this is an achievable list?' If the answer is 'no,' start crossing things out. If you answer 'yes, I can do all this,' do yourself a favor and cross out a few items anyway." It's way too easy to take on too much during the holidays, so consider this your preventive measure against it.

2. Drink less.

More parties means more celebratory toasts and offers of spiked cider and eggnog. But festive drinking can backfire.  "Liquor is a depressant that can deepen existing emotional problems," says Jay Zimmerman, PhD, a psychologist with the Counseling Center at Ball State University. Finding other ways to be festive will go a long way toward keeping your mood boosted.

3.  Don't go for broke.

"Financial pressures are common during the holidays, particularly given the state of the economy in the past few years," says Shadick. "Don't assume that you are required to give lavishly if you cannot afford to. Complete a budget and stick to it." Find thoughtful ways to reach out to people-whether it's offering to pick up items for a neighbor when you're hitting the grocery for the sixth time in a week, or just texting a friend who's entertaining a houseful to see how she's doing.

4.  Visualize the warm fuzzies.

"It's common for people to picture the party they're attending and worry about conflict with certain family members," says Stan Tatkin, PsyD, MFT, author of Wired For Love (New Harbinger, 2011). "So, the night before, it's helpful to mentally conjure up all the people you care about and wish them well. And rather than imagining what the event will be like, imagine the end result-everyone saying how nice it was to be together. It will help you approach the party with that outcome in mind."

5.  Get ready for your close-up.

"If you are feeling anxious about seeing a certain person, go over to them first and wish them a happy holiday. And, as you connect with them, focus on studying the lines on their face, their eyes, their nose, the way their cheeks are shaped," says Tatkin. "It's a great trick because our brains love faces, and focusing closely on someone's facial features in motion can trick the 'mind' giving it something interesting on which to [concentrate] on other than the self." Not only will you be in a better mood because of it, but the person you approached will also enjoy the attention.

 6.  Give yourself a breather!
Whether it's a short walk, a bathroom break or even a fake "phone call" that you need to step out to make, plan in advance ways to give yourself some breaks when you know you're going to be with family or friends that may test your nerves, says Tatkin. He suggests dealing with the difficult people quickly and proactively and then moving right along toward the people you enjoy the most at the party. "The main thing about the holidays is to remain connected to people with whom you love…and leave no family event or gathering without making at least one emotionally satisfying connection with another person."

7.  Stick to your healthy eating guns.

If you eat a bunch of junk and don't get sleep because your schedule is jam-packed, your body wears down physically; it does not have the energy and the strength to cope, says Klapow. "People get sick or they have blowout fights all as a result of pushing their dietary and sleep habits to the limit. If you are looking to be joyous, pay attention to you enough that so you don't lose yourself physically in this holiday."  Eat as closely as you can to your normal, healthy diet, with a few switch-ups for favorite treats, and you'll have more stamina for enjoying celebrations.

8.  Feel the burn-a little less, perhaps.

Putting extra pressure on yourself to hit the gym with your usual five-days-a-week frequency may not be the best idea, says Klapow. Count on getting there, say, two days a week during the time period when your schedule will be erratic. And set a date that you'll return to your previous routine. However, it's helpful to find ways to include exercise in your daily routine. "A walk in the sunlight will add energy," says Zimmerman. "And it will help you battle seasonal affective disorder."

Source: health.msn.com