The New Year is upon us, and most people are reflecting on how 2017 went
by. A lot of people are likely to feel sad or depressed because they were
unable to achieve their goals during the year.
The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy and fun, but it can also
be a time of stress because of the amount of spending done. It’s common for
people to feel disappointed or frustrated because they can’t afford what
they would have loved to get for their loved ones.
If you feel this way, don’t worry. First, you are not alone. Many people
are dealing with the same feelings. There are many ways to lift your
spirits to overcome end of the year and holiday blues so that you can
thoroughly enjoy the holiday season:
Acceptance
Accept how you feel at the moment because it is only normal to feel that
way. The most important aspect is how you handle it. Yes, you weren’t able
to fulfill all your goals, but hardly anyone did! Give yourself a break.
You did what you could, and now it’s time to rest and regroup. You will be
physically, mentally and emotionally refreshed.
Seek support
Ask for support when you feel sad, depressed and also allow others to help
you. Hearing from others about their struggles can give you a fresh
perspective.
Loneliness sometimes pushes people to drive others away. Resist that urge
and make a deliberate and determined effort to go out, spend quality time
with your loved ones and visit your friends. Social events can also help
you relax and have a good time.
Change your idea of what the holidays must look like
Many individuals have created a picture of how Christmas and New Year must
look like, and if things are not going as planned, they lose their joy. The
media is full of unrealities.
Also, try to be honest with yourself about what you can realistically
achieve during the holiday season. Be kind to yourself and remember to set
achievable goals. Even if you can’t afford something now, you can make
plans and be able to get that and more next year or in a few years.
Reduce self-criticism
Beware of criticizing yourself for not achieving the goals you set out to
achieve. Instead, scrutinize. Do not be harsh on yourself but rather look
for ways to motivate yourself to achieve your goals for the future.
Focus on what is good during this season
This season means more time to rest, reflect and connect with family. Feel
the love and peace and from that and focus on it. At the end of the day,
what really matters are the people in your life, not material things.
Photo via: healthline.com