When I hear Andy Williams sing about the Christmas holiday season being the most wonderful time of the year I’m reminded of childhood when my mom would play his albums when the holidays started up each year.
You can’t get away from it
Now I hear his most famous song playing in every store I go into and have to ask, is it the most wonderful time of the year? Really? Do you have a wonderful time over the holiday season? I know a lot of you do but many do not.
What have you lost?
You might be remembering a close friend or relative that will not be spending the season with you this year. You could also be thinking of the trauma of evacuating your home during the recent fires. You might be sad that you are not able to travel to see family this year, or conversely you may be regretting that family is coming!
Overcome the holiday blues
Now that Halloween is over, the time change has happened, and holiday music is playing in stores, you might start to feel a bit overwhelmed by the upcoming expectations. If so, I encourage you to do a few things this season to beat the blues and manage stress.
4 things to consider:
- Eat and drink a little less – we often use food and alcohol to comfort and numb but remember that alcohol is a depressant so you could be pouring fuel on a fire.
- Exercise a little more – going for a walk is exercise. You don’t need to become Arnold or the Rock to have a healthy physical life.
- Reflect on the past year – Here’s a radical idea for you. Go on airbnb.com or vrbo.com right now and book one night away somewhere near where you live. Spend a night away as a gift to yourself and use the time to reflect on 2019 and make some plans for 2020. You can find really nice places to stay for pretty cheap.
- Connect with people you love – spend more time with people who encourage and accept you where you are currently. Spend less time with toxic, negative, and argumentative people.
And by the way, I listen to Andy every year. Thanks Mom!