We get it.
Despite all the apparent happiness in the air, the holidays can also mean dealing with a lot of contradictions.
Yuletide joy and reality are often two very, very different things.
But if you’re one of the bummed out (not the Grinched out), here are 9 no-fail ways to make sure you beat these holiday blues…
1. Remind Yourself There’s No Such Thing As a Perfect Christmas
Just like families aren’t always perfect, neither is Christmas ever year.
So don’t watch a warm, fuzzy, feel-good movie that makes you think otherwise and subsequently question your life. Watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Over and over. It never gets old – and laughing helps your cause.
2. Hit the Gym
Don’t wait until January to get back to the gym or yoga class. Exercise is a no-fail way to reduce levels of stress (but we don’t have to remind you of that) and the effects of a good workout can be felt for hours after those runners come off. Plus, each workout is another step closer to becoming beach-ready for your winter vacation South.
3. Indulge a Little
If there was ever a time to indulge a tad, it’s during the holidays. This could mean a Swiss Chalet “Festive Special” with a mug of rum and eggnog, or – should you be so inclined – and entire advent calendar in one sitting. You can feel better that when the dark depths of January arrive, you’ll have nothing else to do but workout even more.
4. Blast Your Favourite Non-Holiday Track
If you’re just not into it this year, the ample holiday tracks everywhere you go probably aren’t making you feel that warm fuzzy feeling the way they used to (even if it means some of our celeb favourites). Revisit some high school hip-hop a la Tupac or Eminem or a playlist of current electronic tracks.
5. Practice a Random Act of Kindness
It couldn’t be easier to do so than during the holidays. If you think you’re feeling down, there are people who have it a lot worse. Get lost in Toys R Us and buy the coolest gift you can for a disadvantaged child and drop it off at a toy drive. Buy a meal for a homeless person. Or smile at a stranger on the street (or the hottie next to you at the bar).
6. Shop Boxing Day Specials Online in Your Comfiest Sweats
There’s a reason “retail therapy” is a thing. And, if you didn’t get what you’d hoped for on Christmas, that’s what Boxing Day and its ever-so-tempting discounted offerings is for. Now with more stores than ever offering online shopping, the chaotic, overcrowded malls and mile-long lineups are removed from the equation as well.
7. Read a Book
The one thing most of us can at least appreciate during the holidays is the time off from work. Take the time to relax and enjoy the peace – it won’t last forever. One of the best ways to do so is to read a book; more than those five pages per night you’re currently reading before you doze off. A hot chocolate or cup of tea makes the perfect sidekick.
8. Create a New Tradition
If you’re bummed out that the holidays just aren’t what they used to be, create your own tradition… no matter how “untraditional” it is. This could mean a mimosa-filled Christmas morning with fellow friends who can’t make it home for the holidays, going on a NYE trip, or involving yourself with a charitable cause.
9. Embrace the Winter
Instead of cursing the season, embrace everything that a “Great Canadian Winter” has to offer. Hit the slopes, the ice rink, the toboggan hill, or a park with your niece or nephew for an afternoon of snowman making.
If you think it’s much deeper that a bout of the blues, seek help. Remember, there’s absolutely no shame in therapy. In fact, everybody’s doing it.
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