BEATING THE 2020 HOLIDAY BLUES
Hello everyone and welcome to another WELLNESS WEDNESDAY that hopefully also is filled with a little WISDOM to help us navigate the holidays during this difficult year of Covid-19.
Most of us look forward all year to the winter holidays when we come together with family and friends, and look forward to traditions that have been passed down and enjoyed for decades.
Shopping for essentials with the crowd, cooking with siblings, and decorating the house and table with time-worn, sentimental pieces. Helping Uncle Joe carve the turkey, joining Grandma’s holiday toast with a bit of sherry in her favorite heirloom crystal, raking leaves for a bonfire, arguing over the best way to prepare the green bean casserole, laughing and cajoling with each other through the fabulous days of gratitude, fun and fulfillment.
Yet, this year so many of us are facing the holidays without our beloved traditions or the support and company of those we hold dear. As a result, many of us may find ourselves particularly sad or blue this year in a usually festive holiday season.
For example, this will be the first time in 20 years that my husband and I have not gone to Colorado to spend the holiday season with our family. Instead, we’ll be spending the time at home in our own little bubble, which includes each other and our sweet dog Angel. We’ll have turkey and pumpkin pie for two, kibble for one, and enough chocolate chip cookies for an army. My personal way of compensating.
Yet even if your holiday will only be a celebration with one, here are 5 good ways to keep your spirits up and your emotional wellbeing intact even in the midst of a prolonged worldwide Pandemic and the absence of family and friends.
REMAIN FLEXIBLE
Which one of these things is not like the others? Well, this year is different from any other ever experienced by ninety-five percent of the population on the planet. Accept the fact that everything will be different as a result. Don’t expect things to be the same, or comfortable, or convenient. Know that we have to fly by the seat of our pants, and improvise, and change things up, and expect the unexpected. Be open to new ideas and willing to try new things.
BE PREPARED
Do you really need to travel this year? The experts are advising us against it. Instead, organize an outdoor meal for your own bubble, and no more than one or two additional, small bubbles. Use a large table. Seat everyone not in your bubble safely and socially distanced from one another. Keep masks on unless eating or drinking. Don’t congregate in the kitchen. Use a small bottle of hand sanitizer for this year’s place settings. Add a few heaters and a little music to the scene. Use brightly colored, throwaway plastic plates, cups and pre-packaged picnic utensils. It may be different, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be wonderful.
GATHER VIRTUALLY
Is it really all about the feast? No. As much as we might look forward to a mouth-watering meal with all the fixings, the real magic of the holiday season lies in connecting with our loved ones. Organize Zoom sessions and toast each other with a virtual celebration. Vocalize your love for each other. Tell jokes, laugh, compare recipes and meal plans. Share the culinary disasters. And if you don’t have Zoom technology, just pick up the phone and call all those on your typical guestlist. Wish them a personal happy holiday. Tell them how much you care and that you’re thinking about them. It’s a great way to connect and lift everyone’s spirits wherever they may be.
STAY ACTIVE
Does quarantining mean being a couch potato? Again, the short, sweet answer is no. Now more than ever, it’s important to stay active. Put that mask on and get outside for a walk or bike ride. Step into the back yard or out onto the patio for a few daily stretches or a little yoga. Then balance your activity with intentional efforts to relax with a little meditation, deep breathing or quiet reflection and visualization. Your mood will improve, your mind will become clear, your immune system will become stronger, and you’ll just feel better. Plain and simple.
SEEK HELP
What if I do all these things and I still feel depressed and sad? Change is difficult to deal with. It’s uncomfortable and unfamiliar. Seeking professional help from a licensed therapist or counselor may help ease the emotional burden and stress of a holiday season that’s so different. Just talking to someone for a few minutes and sharing your thoughts can go a long way in stabilizing your mental outlook and physical health. And, you can connect with these professionals virtually from the safety of your own home. Everyone needs someone to lean on from time to time, and this year may be the perfect time to reach out and ask for a little help.
Through it all, remember that human beings are phenomenally resilient, creative and adaptable. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we can face and overcome just about anything. We’ve come this far and we’re going to make it the rest of the way, and I have no doubt that this time next year we’ll be in an entirely different and better place.
So, let’s garner all our courage and optimism, be grateful for all we do have, and celebrate these holidays in spite of and perhaps even because of, all the challenges we’ve encountered this year.
Thanks again for joining me everyone. I’m so grateful for each and every one of you and I wish you all a beautiful Thanksgiving and joyous holiday season. Until next time, please stay safe, stay hopeful, stay in GOOD HEALTH and . . .
TAKE THE COURSE AND TAKE CHARGE!
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