Just the other day, I read this:
Christmas is the one month of the year when suicides spike. This has been an extra depressing year for a lot of people adding to the depression and stress already felt. If you feel depressed this Christmas season, and are contemplating the unthinkable, please call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Please share this. This could save the life of one of your closest friends who you may not even realize is sad.
As I read through the above text, it really nailed it into my head about how stressful of a year this has been for people. Job losses, health concerns, cancelled travel, limited social interaction, death, depression, and the list goes on. This, coupled with the fact that the holiday season always brings stress and depression as is, led me to start writing this post about how we can reduce stress (to hopefully reduce depression and increase joy, as well).
It is no wonder that the holidays bring these unwanted feelings. They often present a dizzying array of demands: cooking meals, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining, to name just a few. And if you are concerned about COVID-19 spreading in your community, you may be feeling additional stress, or you may be worrying about your and your loved ones’ health. You may also feel stressed, sad or anxious because your holiday plans may look different during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maybe people cancelled on you last minute, or maybe you chose to stay away to protect others. No matter what is bringing your stress or depression, there are ways to minimize these feelings that accompany the holidays. You may even end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would. Here are a few tips to help you through this season:
Acknowledge Your Feelings
The first step in your journey to reduce stress around the holidays is to acknowledge your feelings. If someone close to you has recently died or you can’t be with loved ones for other reasons, realize that it’s normal to feel sadness and grief. It’s perfectly fine to take time to cry or express your feelings. You can’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season. This is actually a great way to show your kids that showing your feelings is okay and normal. Once you acknowledge your feelings, you can pinpoint what is bringing you down and/or causing you stress, which brings me to my next point.
Make Changes
The holidays don’t have to be perfect, and they do not have to be just like last year, or other years in the past. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. This can be hard to stomach (especially when you have no control over the changes), but choose a few to hold on to when you can, and be open to creating new ones. For example, if your relatives can’t come to your home this year, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing pictures, emails or videos. Or meet virtually on a video call. Even though your holiday plans may look different this year, you can find ways to celebrate.
Making changes such as the virtual video calls is definitely hard, but when you pinpoint your negative feelings, you can make changes, to hopefully reduce that stress.
Focus On Family
When it comes down to it, Christmas is about joy and giving. Focus on your kids, and make it a good season for them. When you focus on your family and see them happy, your stress will automatically melt away. Find safe ways to celebrate and make it a great year for them: go through a drive through light show (there are a ton in GA), create and play in fake snow, binge Christmas movies, bake cookies, find a way to give back, etc.
Worried About Money?
I won’t sugarcoat it… A lot of people are concerned about money right now. If you fit into this list, please know that it will be okay. Presents, while typically a part of Christmas, do not have to be the center of the holiday. But, know that if you still want a “normal” Christmas when it comes to presents (I do not blame you one bit), there are options to help you get gifts for your kids, without having to stress about money even more than you are. One great option available to you is the diamond buyer in Atlanta, Chapes-JPL. You might be thinking, “What? I don’t want to sell my diamonds!” Don’t worry – they have other options, too. Chapes-JPL offers low-interest collateral loans on your valuables. This includes watches, jewelry, diamonds, even cars! They also purchase valuables outright, as well, if you do not want to get a low-interest loan. Still don’t think you have things to sell? Do you have any broken jewelry? Old handbags? A watch? I am sure that you can find something that you don’t need anymore. This is a fantastic way to make extra (very quick!) cash that you can use for Christmas presents, or even Christmas dinner! If you aren’t worried about gifts, but are worried about your business, they also offer business loans. All in all, Chapes-JPL is a great place to start when you are having concerns about money.
Get Help When You Need It
Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for a while, talk to your family, your friends, a doctor or a counselor. You should never face battles on your own – there are people who want to help you! Read my post HERE, on my steps to self-love.
I’d love to know how you’re adding joy to your life in this holiday season! Leave a comment and let me know!
