Beat the Holiday Blues


The Holiday Blues are defined as temporary feelings of anxiety or depression during the holidays.

It’s not surprising that many people tend to experience the holiday blues. We no more than get through Halloween, and the onslaught of holiday shopping commercials begin. Black Friday is no longer delegated to just the Friday after Thanksgiving; oh no, we now have early Black Friday sales. You don’t have to wait until that one day to start spending your money.

Then there are the school parties for children, and work parties for adults putting expectations on us. Gifts for exchanges, food items to donate, and obligations to contribute to a holiday luncheon not only create additional work, but also a financial burden. Not everyone can afford to spend money on these things; they struggle just to have enough to spend on their own family.

The holidays should be spent enjoying time with family and close friends. We need to stop taking on unnecessary burdens that detract from the real spirit of the season, and get involved in doing things that have meaning. If we do something because we feel obligated, or someone pressures us into believing it’s expected, it will only bring us down leading to a negative environment.

If we feel the holiday blues starting to creep in, we need to examine what is creating it. Have we taken on something we really don’t have time for, or that we don’t have the financial means to pay for? Are we comparing our holiday plans or gifts to those of someone else? Have we let someone “guilt” us into committing to a cause when we would rather commit to one of our own choosing? When we look within for the answer to why we are feeling down, we can combat it by taking a stand and choosing to enjoy the holidays with our families in ways that make it special for us.

A few things that we should all keep in mind:
  • Never feel guilty for saying no; just because you’re asked doesn’t mean you have to.
  • Buy gifts because you want to, not because you feel obligated.
  • Stick to your budget, and make sure your children are aware there is one. You should never go into debt because of the holiday.
  • Create family traditions that are fun and take the time to do them.
  • Teach children that the feeling they get when they give a gift, or their time, is far better than the feeling of receiving a gift.
  • Be sure to make time for yourself to destress so you can enjoy the holidays. Go for a walk, get lost in a book, watch a feel-good Christmas movie; whatever it takes to calm you spirit. Everything else can wait. 
Stay focused on family and the true meaning of the season, and you will find it much easier to avoid the holiday blues.


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