The Most Wonderful Time of the Year? | he holiday season is often portrayed with excitement and positive energy. After all, it’s a time usually spent indulging in delicious food, exchanging gifts, taking time for faith, and being among family and friends. But for many, the holidays can also be a time of increased levels of stress and depressed mood. With more demands, financial constraints, isolation from friends or family, less daylight, and fewer opportunities to be outside due to inclement weather (luckily not an issue for Florida!), the holiday season can bring about the “holiday blues.” Fortunately, there are several tips you can implement to battle these blues. During the holiday season, it is important to surround yourself with supportive friends and family; however, setting limits for commitments is also beneficial for your mood. List your responsibilities and commitments and prioritize them. Be realistic about what you can and cannot accomplish during the holiday season, and share responsibilities
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By Guest Author Dr. Lisa Oliveri
with friends and family to reduce the burden on yourself. The holidays can be difficult particularly after suffering a loss of a friend or family member. Rather than comparing this year to years past, create new traditions to honor the memory of your loved ones. For instance, if your mother always took great pride in baking holiday cookies, start a new tradition of baking and decorating holiday cookies with a friend or another family member. This will be a great way to honor your loved one, enjoy a new yearly tradition, and strengthen existing relationships with friends and family. If you live far away from loved ones, you can seek out social groups to join, such as religious groups or hobby-specific groups. You can also broaden your social network while giving back to your community by volunteering for a cause that is important to you. Helping others in need is another way to improve your mood. Although the holidays can be busy, be sure to continue to get a good night’s sleep, exercise at least three days per
week, and maintain a healthy diet (as much as you can outside of the holiday parties). You can also set aside a few minutes each day to focus on yourself by practicing mindfulness, meditation, reading, or listening to music. With proper planning and implementation of some of these tips, you can reduce your stress level, improve your mood, and enjoy a holly jolly holiday season!
9 | BrainStorms | Q4 | 2018
