The holidays are supposed to be fun and joyous—but sometimes, they can leave us feeling sad, stressed—even at an all-time low.
There are many reasons why you could feel depressed during the holidays, including the changing season, shifting family dynamics, having no family to celebrate with, or even unrealistic expectations.
But even when there seems to be no real reason, people sometimes still wind up becoming sad during the holidays. And their first solution is to try and block out these feelings.
Here’s the thing about emotions, though.
Every emotion has a part to play in helping us grow and become well-rounded human beings. Personal growth, progress, and development depend on our ability to learn to manage our emotions and use their intensity productively.
Sadness is no different. Just like happiness, excitement, and joy, sadness plays a role in our growth. Blocking it is next to impossible—not to mention dangerous and detrimental.
However, there are things that can be done to manage it, especially during the holiday season. Here are a few.
Counter Sadness With Balance
You can’t avoid sadness—but you can balance it to lower its intensity and make it less overwhelming.
Turn to things that make you feel good. Re-watch your favorite shows, call up your best friends for a day out, or even run a bath, put in some scented bath salts, and lie back for an hour.
Doing this will help you stay emotionally stable during this tough time, while also helping you make things better.
Say ‘No’ To Things That Don’t Feel Good
The holidays can get exhausting; they often push you to your limits when it comes to social obligations. You may even feel overwhelmed with guilt due to certain events or your finances.
It’s difficult managing yourself, your life, and your personal limits, combined with expectations from family and friends.
This is why learning to say ‘no’—politely—is imperative.
So the next time a relative asks you to stay over for a couple more days, know that they mean well, but also know that your routine is important too.
Explain to them why you can’t and politely refuse, instead of giving in.
Keep A Gratitude List
Gratitude lists are a great way to bring some positivity into your day instantly. Just knowing that you have so much to be grateful for can cheer you up.
So when you’re feeling sad and down, simply pull out a pen and paper, and write down ten things you are grateful for.
Seasonal sadness usually goes away within a few days, but if it lingers for a lot longer or intensifies, you may need to get it checked by a professional.
Make sure to get an appointment with a good therapist as soon as possible and double up the effects of therapy by combining it with self-help to keep you motivated when you’re by yourself.
One such self-help tool is the NIKU app. Working on the ‘reframing of needs’ principle, the app makes it easy to satisfy your unmet needs by giving them a new context.
The app is available on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store; it works like a life coach or an online psychologist so you can return to life faster.
