Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell…NOT!

Jingle bell, Jingle bell, Jingle bell… NOT!

As we enter into the holiday season, not everyone is singing carols or counting down. I don’t know about you, but I can always feel loads of people in festive moods, and yet just as many filled with stress and sadness.

There are so many reasons one might come down with a case of the “holiday blues.” Here’s just a few. Let’s explore them and see how we can help get your holiday jingle back!

1. Loss of loved ones: This one is always hard. I know first hand. I lost my grandmother and she was everything to me. Her cooking and her sweet spirit always made me feel holiday-ish. Without her, every year was quite depressing. However, in recent years, I began to think about how she would want things to be. It truly changed the way I handled not having her around. She would want me to enjoy the holidays. Your loved ones would to.

Suggestion: Find a favorite dish or recipe that reminds you of your loved one and prepare it in honor of them OR have an ornament personalized and hang it on the tree every year to embrace the memories of your loved one and “include” them in your time of celebration.

2. Limited Finances: This one ranks top of the list as well. There are always those sweet little lists for “Santa” that seem so grinch-like when your holiday budget is limited. This can be overwhelming because we never want to disappoint our children, but we have to consider life after the holidays for our household. Don’t let what you feel you CANNOT do, stop you from what you CAN do.

Suggestion: Get Creative! Have your children make their list in the order of the gifts most wanted. Even if you can only get gift cards for a portion, coordinate with other family members to request gift cards to the same places that can help make it happen OR if other family members are able to help, spread the list around. You never know, the entire list may get done. Remember, you don’t have to be the ONLY Santa. Be okay with help to get the job done!

3. Being away from home/family: Last, but certainly not least, this can definitely cause a case of holiday blues. Unfortunately, due to things like military orders, parental schedules in divorce, or simply living in another state, some are not able to be with family during the holidays. This can be sad and stressful because you miss your loved ones, but cannot control the inability to be there for all of the family holiday traditions. Though you may have others to celebrate with, there’s no place like home!

Suggestion: Schedule a holiday connection call! Set a specific time to Skype, Facetime, or simply call your loved ones during the family gathering. This way you can speak with family members and even open gifts that you may have sent OR if you are unable to communicate over the phone, you and the family could compose letters and mail them to each other with a specific day and time that you will read them. This creates a “moment of connection” and helps with the feeling of not being there .

I’m sure there are several more reasons one might catch a case of the “holiday blues,” but I hope some of these suggestions can help you get your jingle back. By embracing memories, being creative with wish lists, or by finding ways to be included without being present, I hope this year brings about a new joy in your holiday season!

 Happy Holidays to All!