:: Guest Blogger today for Mini-Holiday Series ::
Holiday Blues From a Mom's
Perspective
Christmas is, in a sense, a
crazy time for moms. We have our usual lists of daily to-dos;
but, December completely tops it with a few sparkling extras. There are
gifts to mail, seasonal parties to plan, and let's not forget shopping for
the kids. It goes without saying that moms are typically the ones in charge of
bringing on the festivities and it can get pretty overwhelming. One thing leads
to another, then you're hit with RGF (Resting Grinch Face). In fact when asked,
64% of people have the holiday blues. This post will explore how to deal
with it from a mom's perspective.
First step is acknowledgment.
You're part of the #StrongMomsClub,
right? Yep, me, too. I'm the type to think logically, keep it moving, and
even do a few push-ups on the side. When you're faced with the holiday blues,
especially when you're busy, it may be hard to acknowledge that you even have
it. Additionally, you might just want to pretend it's not there so you can keep
your schedule. Pushing it down, and bottling it up, will not do you any good.
If you sense any sentimental
or compulsive feelings of being down, or stressed, you need to face it head on.
Pause and ask yourself if you would feel this way if it wasn't Christmas time.
Symptoms of holiday blues include fatigue, tension, loneliness, and senses of
loss. This is different than true clinical depression because the occurrences
are temporary and only associated at the onset of the holidays. Once you
understand this you can move on to the next step.
Talk about it.
Talking, or communication
rather, is the best thing for a mom's well being. Some of us do not work
outside of the home and it can get pretty isolating. Additionally, we can get
into the false mindset of thinking that no one really wants to hear about our
day. There's messiness, slobber, and mundane house chores. Who really wants to
hear me complain about that? The truth, your loved ones do.
So, talk about your holiday
blues. Get it out. That may be all that you need to make it past the season.
Tell your spouse, or close loved ones, that you could use a little help. They
will be more than happy to listen.
How to avoid holiday blues in the first
place.
Here's a simplified list of
how to avoid holiday blues in the first place.
1.
Aside from a few parties here and
there, stick to normal routines as much as possible.
2.
Get enough rest. Please do not stay
up to 2 am trimming the Christmas tree, or wrapping presents.
3.
Make sure to eat and drink in
moderation. Bingeing on holiday ham when you're normally a salad goddess will
completely throw anyone out of wack.
4.
Keep things simple and family
focused.
5.
Lastly, set reasonable expectations
for the month of December. You know you want to do gift shopping, bake cookies
for Santa, and all that jazz. Just rationally plan only what you can handle.
Whatever your reasons for
celebrating, I hope you find some joy. The holiday blues can be tough to handle
from a mom's perspective. Use our tips of acknowledging, communicating, and
furthermore avoiding, Christmas depression to turn things merry again.
Sincerely,
Fullest Mom
Guest Blogger Bio
::Fullest
Mom is owned by Candace Ann, wife and mom of 3. Her fundamentals are grace,
laughter, and perseverance. She thrives off of coffee and hazelnut syrup.
Her social media links are as follows:
Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/Fullestmom/
Pinterest-https://www.pinterest.com/fullestmom/
Twitter-https://twitter.com/fullestmom
