The holiday season is filled with joy, but almost all of us at one point or another feel sad for one reason or another. It’s okay to have feelings friends. It’s okay to feel sad. Sometimes we feel sad because we lost a loved one during this season. Other times it’s because there are so many expectations during the holiday season that we’re disappointed when our expectations aren’t met. You could be feeling off and don’t even know why.
I like routine. Insert enormous belly laugh from those that know my life. There is no routine to my life. In the most general sense of the word, there is. I know that I’m going to work on the farm doing whatever Matt needs done. I know that in the evenings when it gets dark, I’m going to get more time in our house to accomplish what I need to while Matt works in the shop. I know that we’re going to go to bed together and he’s going to turn the TV on and fall asleep in 2.3 seconds while I’m pulled in to whatever show he has on. I know we’re not going to wake up to an alarm. I know we’re mostly going to eat home made meals. I know that I’m going to move my body for roughly 30 minutes per day in some form of exercise. I like my routine. I like knowing. When my routine is thrown off, I have to work really hard at remaining calm and going with the flow.
Here’s a list of things that I do that help me stay grounded during a season that can be complete chaos:
- The number one thing I do is understand that things are going to be different than normal and that’s okay.
- Next, food is so important to how we’re feeling. I’m not saying feelings like anxiety, depression, stress, etc can be cured by eating nothing but whole foods. Those are real feelings and it is okay to have them. I’m saying, it is scientifically proven that your diet does affect your brain and how we react to things. The holidays are always a time for special treats. Enjoy them! Eat all the things. But balance it out when you’re not at party. Plan a menu that is full of protein and veggies. Save the sugar for parties. We know we’re going to get enough of it this month! We don’t need it at home.
- Exercise: I’m not selling anything! Except my strong desire that our bodies were made to move. Can I share a secret? Nobody feels motivated to exercise every single day, but nobody regrets a workout once they’re finished. Exercise releases endorphins into your body that help fight the holiday blues and stress.
- Quit stressing: If buying the perfect gift for you stresses you out, figure out a different solution. For example, my parents started giving us vacation money a couple years ago. We don’t get it until we actually go. It encourages our less than willing to leave the farm husbands to actually leave. We know that’s what we’re getting every year from my parents. And it’s amazing. We know that we’re giving our nieces and nephews money for their futures. We don’t buy gifts for them. Are they less than impressed without a gift to open at this point in their lives for birthday and Christmas from Aunt Kelsey and Uncle Matt, yes. But hopefully the money is being invested and will be put to use so it will help them start their adult lives off being debt free rather than buried in debt.
- Understand what you need and be selfish enough to take care of yourself as long as it’s not in detriment to someone else. Know that if holiday parties wear you out, give yourself time to recover. Know if a certain day is really hard, plan either time off or a way to keep busy whichever you need. Like Dave Ramsey says all the time, we’re busy trying to impress people that don’t care and that we don’t really even like. Quit going into debt during the holiday season to buy gifts that may be enjoyed for a little bit, but are often soon forgotten. Do the important things and don’t worry about the other things.
What else do you do to help battle the holiday blues?
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~Matt & Kelsey