As Christmas approaches, many people feel depressed. Why Doctor gives here nine tips to follow in order to avoid falling into overwork, loneliness or even excessive expenditure and calories.
That’s it, here we go again, the holiday season is approaching. If in children it is always a source of wonder and delight, in adults it happens on the contrary that it is synonymous with stress and worry. According to a Harris poll conducted in 2008, one in three French people would feel depressed when Christmas arrives, the two main reasons being loneliness (33%) and financial difficulties (29%). In order to avoid falling into these faults and other worries related to weight gain, family overwork and lack of light, Why Doctor has compiled a list of nine tips to follow during this difficult period. Follow the leader…
1/ Plan a budget in advance
Instead of getting caught up in a whirlwind of unplanned purchases and regretting it for the whole new year ahead, set yourself a no-one limit before you hit the stores. If possible, use only cash so you can better see what you are spending.
2/ Avoid drinking too much
Christmas pot at the office, “Secret Santa” with friends, Christmas with family, New Year’s Eve… The opportunities to drink and party are linked during the holiday season. Before you rush for the first bottle of champagne to hand, remember that you don’t need to drink at every event. Before the evening, set a limit and stick to it. Because if alcohol may seem like a good solution to release the pressure in a period as stressful as Christmas, it can on the contrary play the role of bad catalyst and cause dramas that everyone would have done well without. Not to mention hangovers, weight gain and other nasty side effects.
3/ Maintain a healthy relationship with food
If it is obvious that you will not reach your “summer body” goal in December, there is no need to feel unwell at every meal. Without putting too much pressure on yourself in the face of weight gain or feeling guilty with each bite of foie gras, try to moderate yourself a minimum and not refill yourself each time in order to not feeling sick all the time.
4/ Don’t throw away all your good habits at once
During the Christmas period, we all tend to forget to go to the gym. It’s cold and early night and once night falls and the day’s work is over, we have more than one desire: to take refuge under our duvets to watch a good Christmas movie. While this is of course perfectly understandable, don’t give up all your good sports habits all at once. The sun being almost invisible in December, morale takes a hit and it is important to stay physically active and not always be indoors if you want to avoid getting depressed and falling into the holiday blues. Try to walk as much as possible and get some fresh air every day (even if it’s cold) to stay fit.
5/ Take the light
In the same logic, consider exposing yourself to as much daylight as possible. The lack of light and vitamin D causing our body to function as if it were always in the middle of the night, many people tend to have low spirits and to feel perpetually exhausted during the winter. If you can’t afford a few moments in the sun every day, buy a light therapy lamp. Half an hour a day for two weeks should be enough for you to see the difference.
6/ Know how to say stop to your family
It’s not because it’s Christmas that you absolutely have to cross France long, wide and across to greet all your great uncles and aunts. Don’t overload your Christmas holidays with family visits, you won’t have time to do everything or see everyone. Know how to say no and be firm without feeling guilty, there are only 24 hours in a day. You have 365 days in the year to spread out social events, no need to concentrate everything on two weeks.
7/ Stay active to avoid loneliness
If, as we have just seen, some people find it difficult to manage their crazy schedule at this end-of-year period, others, on the contrary, find themselves more alone than ever, immersed in the memories of loved ones. they lost. In order to combat loneliness, concoct a list of things to do. It’s now or never to start a new hobby: take pottery, Chinese or salsa lessons… And since Christmas is above all a time when you give of yourself, why not become a volunteer for charitable organisation, donate blood or sponsor a child in need?
8/ Have realistic expectations
Enchanting Christmas movies and idealized childhood memories oblige, sometimes you expect too much from this holiday season and are therefore very disappointed when the moment is over: the turkey was bad, your family depressing and your gifts completely lousy. … Also, remember to keep a cool head as the festivities approach. If you keep realistic expectations, you can only be pleasantly surprised.
9/ Take to the skies
And if you really hate Christmas above all else, don’t feel guilty about your parents or others, take off. Take advantage of this vacation period to escape the winter gloom and pack your bags for more exotic destinations where you can find peace and quiet away from the pressure of the holidays.
If you feel too tired, stressed or depressed over the holidays, do not hesitate to consult a doctor. And if you especially need an attentive ear, groups and associations are there to support you.
Red Cross Listening Tel. : 0 800 858 858
The Open Door Tel. : 0 803 33 33 11
SOS Depression Tel. : 01 40 47 95 95
SOS friendship Tel. : 01 42 96 26 26
Fil Santé JeunesTel. : 32 24.
.
