How to Beat the Holiday Blues: 10 Strategies for a Happier Season

The holidays are a time of joy for many people. They look forward to getting together with family. They have and/or attend big celebrations on Thanksgiving and Christmas. They are fortunate.

Many people do not experience that picturesque merry scene. Some people may not live near family, may not have family, or their family does not get together for whatever reason. For those people, the holidays can be much more melancholy than merry.

I speak from experience. As me and my siblings grew older, our family stopped having get togethers for the holidays. This was overall a good thing because there was always drama in may family. That is for another post. So, it was me and my daughter, or just me if she was spending the holiday with her dad (we have been divorced for years). So, I have spent many holidays alone.

It never bothered me being a single parent when my daughter was growing up, but the holidays sucked.

My daughter is now grown. Her boyfriend has what I call "a real family" (mom, dad, and siblings who actually get along and have fun together).

My daughter has spent the last couple Thanksgivings out of state with her boyfriend's family. This will be the third year. I'm okay with that. I think it's great that he still has grandparents and spending time with them is important.

I was invited to her boyfriend's parent's house for Christmas dinner last year. It was very nice of them to invite me and I had a nice time. They are nice people who are easy to talk to and get along with.

I went to my daughter's apartment on Christmas Eve so we could exchange gifts, then of course saw them on Christmas Day at his parents. I was grateful to be able to spend the time with my daughter on the holiday.

I am happy that my daughter is with someone who has a famiy that considers her one of their own. But honestly, it does get to me sometimes. I know they have a much better time with the boyfriend's family because they have an actual family and there is more than just one person. I am single, so when we get together, it isn't fun like it is when you get together with two or more people.

I'm sure Christmas this year, and those in the future, will be the same. I'll have a little time to exchange gifts, but they will spend most of the time before, during, and after Christmas with his family. This is just the way it is.

All that said, I do not spend the holidays sitting on the sofa pigging out on comfort food feeling sorry for myself. There have been times at Christmas that I use the holiday to get things done at home, do things I want to do, or spend the day doing nothing.

Everyone deserves to have a happy holiday, so I made a list of some ideas that I hope will help you shake the holiday blues. Some of these, maybe all of them are pretty straightforward, but sometimes it helps to see things in black and white.

10 Strategies for a Happier Holiday Season

1. Attend that holiday function you aren't feeling up to. It will be good to get out of the house and be around cheerful people.

2. Invite someone who you know will be spending the holidays alone to come over. It will give you both company. You can each prepare something for a meal or snacks. You can watch a movie, play a game or some cards, or just visit and enjoy each other's company.

3. Write a letter or include a handwritten note on a card for someone for no particular reason. The recipient will feel good knowing you took the time to do this. And what a nice surprise to receive it after the busy holidays!

4. Take a walk, if the weather permits. Getting fresh air is always good. If the weather won't allow this, do some stretchces. You can do stretches while sitting on the sofa. If you're really ambitious, get up and do some exercises. You don't have to do a total body workout, but everyone feels better when they've been up and moving.

5. Set a goal and accomplish it! This can be anything on your to-do list, a large project, or anything you want. Just be sure it is an attainable goal so you can feel good about it when you finish.

6. Stay off social media! Browsing pictures of other people enjoying the holiday will make you feel more alone. And you don't need to see all of the negativity in the news!

7. Watch one or several movies you've been wanting to see or have seen but love. This is a great day to get cozy and enjoy movies or binge watch a TV show.

8. Start reading that book you've been wanting to read or spend time reading one you already started.

9. Work on a craft you enjoy or try a new one. You might need to plan ahead for this one if you don't have the craft supplies, but this is a fun way to spend some time. Make a vision board for a goal you want to accomplish.

10. Last and best - spend time with God! Read your Bible or review your Bible study for the week. Try Bible journaling. The latter is something you might want to plan ahead for if you want to get fancy.

The best thing you can do BEFORE the holiday is to pray about it. Just because our holiday doesn't look like other people's, doesn't mean we can't enjoy it. Pray that you will make the best of your time and enjoy the day. Know that you are never really alone, God is always with you and loves you. He didn't create you to feel alone or sad. He is a great comfort when we allow him to be.

I hope these tips help make your holiday bright and enjoyable!

Until next time,

Melanie