Beating the winter blahs

The holidays are festive time, but for many it can also be a time of emotional turmoil. Despite television’s portrayal of the holiday season as a joyful setting with family and friends, there can also be much stress and loneliness.

For many, the prospect of spending time with family and friends is viewed as a dreaded duty and obligation. Isolation and loneliness can be the plight of individuals faced with financial or geographical impediments or the lack of family and friends. Work-related deadlines can also weigh heavy on holiday-goers, placing an emotional chill on the warmth of the season.

Add to this the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, cooking and caring for a house full of outofschool ramped-up kids. For many, the idea of going to sleep on Dec. 23 and not waking up until Jan. 2 seems like just the ticket.

Below are user-friendly tools to keep the holiday blahs at bay:

• Self Care. Take time out for yourself and do things that are relaxing, such as taking deep relaxing baths, writing in journals, giving yourself pampering massages and facials as well as anything that contributes to your overall sense of wellbeing. Do it as much as feasibly possible in order to help keep your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.

• Exercise is also crucial for maintaining a sense of well-being. Exercise has been proven to be very beneficial for decreasing stress and keeping the endorphins flowing from your brain through your body.

• Eating well. Sugars and fats can in the short term give some short-term benefits but very quickly dissipate and contribute to a feeling of fatigue.

• Sleep Well. Even adults need a minimum of eight hours of rest per night.

• Watch alcohol and drug intake. Substance usage commonly rises during the holidays but contributes to a negative sense of wellbeing. It can also contribute to making irrational and impulsive actions such as overspending or causing a stir at a holiday party.

• Pace yourself. Moderate how much you can do on a given day without overexhausting yourself. Remember, most things can be done at another time without any negative repercussions.

• Prioritize tasks. Prioritize what you have to do on a given day and list what you need to do in order from most to least importance. If you do not complete everything on your to do list then pick it up the next day in order of priority.

• Choose Wisely. There’s only so much time and we have to choose how we want to spend it and with whom. Do not force yourself to be around people you do not feel compelled to be with as it only drains the energy you need to get through the holidays.

• Take A Break. Take a vacation or rest from the hectic time of the year. Getting away can give you some perspective on life.

• Budget yourself financially. The money spent or overspent at this time of the year can contribute to stress. Making a budget and keeping to it can help circumvent the stress of overspending later.

• Reaching out. Social support is a proven means of buffering emotional overload. Look to friends, families and the help of a professional therapist if needed to talk about how to cope with this stressful time of the year.

Lily Goldfarb is a licensed clinical social worker in Agoura Hills.