Ideas for Holiday Happiness That Work!

An Electronic Mental Health Newsletter from Joel I. Kimmel, Ph.D., P.A. & Associates
                                                    Volume 16, Number 12

The holiday season can be joyful or a time of stress and frustration. Many people suffer from the “holiday blues” as they feel overwhelmed, worried, spend too much, eat too much, and are proverbially running just to catch up.

There are frequent demands to get the shopping done, the tree put up, the lights lit, the meals made, and the gifts and cards to be sent. Rather than enjoying the spirit of the season or remembering why the holidays are important, the focus is often on just getting things done.

For many, the holiday season is a difficult time. Yet it can also be a time for happiness and joy, but it takes work. Happiness can be achieved this season as long as one actively pursues it.

Our December e-Letter is entitled Ideas for Holiday Happiness That Work! Dr. Kimmel’s blog is about Looking Back and can be found here.

We hope you find the enclosed information helpful and interesting. We also thank you for reading our e-Letters and for the positive and compassionate comments we have received

Ideas for Holiday Happiness That Work!

                                                   (Photo by Nicole Michalou)

The holiday season can be very stressful, or not depending upon how you perceive it. Many people are overwhelmed with obligations to others, their families, and themselves. There can be too many things to do, too many expectations to meet, and too much food and drink.

Some of us remember past family holidays and the losses we have suffered over the years. The emphasis of this being a time for family only highlights this sense of emptiness.

This is all against the backdrop of very worrisome news, inflation, polarization of our country, and Covid and other viruses. There is a lot of hate spread across social media and mental illness seems to be exploding in our country. Worry and frustration are very common feelings.

However, the holiday season can truly be joyous and very meaningful. It can be a welcome break from the daily stress, but it takes some work. Happiness and joy can be achieved this season as long as one actively pursues it.

The field of Positive Psychology has shown over and over again that doing positive activities increases happiness and well-being. One must be proactive and determined to be happy in order to feel happy. We can give in to the stress or we can decide to make this a meaningful holiday season. There are some simple and basic strategies that if followed will turn the holidays season into a happy time.

                                                   (Photo by Gabrielle Audu)

We offer the following information:
 
IDEAS FOR HOLIDAY HAPPINESS THAT WORK!
            And So This Is Christmas; And What Have We Done?
           Another Year Over; A New One Just Begun;
           And So Happy Christmas;
           I Hope You Have Fun;
           The Near And The Dear Ones;
           The Old And The Young…John Lennon

WHAT TO KNOW!

• The holidays can be a very stressful time because of:
• Too much to do
• Many obligations and invitations to meet
• Pressure to shop and gift
• A lot of family visiting
• Too much eating and drinking
• Excessive television watching and streaming
• Too much worrying in general
• You can actively choose to be happy by not letting the stress and demands get to you
• To be happy, change your attitude and see life as meaningful, joyful, and satisfying

WHAT TO DO!

You can take control of the holidays by doing the following:

Limit your watching of the news and reading/watching depressing social media

Do not lose your sense of “you” because of doing too much for others

Don’t pressure yourself to make it a perfect holiday or the best ever

Make a conscious choice to be happy; don’t let stress and demands get to you

Accept only the important invitations to holiday events, not all of them

Be aware of what/how much you drink as it may affect your medications

Keep your sense of humor and try not to take the holiday demands too seriously

Share your happiness with others, especially, the less fortunate

Lower your expectations for seeing family

Before gifting, decide for each person, how much you want to spend and stick to it

Write a gift list and set aside only one or two specific times to shop

Develop new holiday traditions or rituals

Be prepared for sadness due to remembering losses of loved ones

Care for yourself by buying yourself a gift, meeting up with a friend, watching a traditional holiday movie, reading a good book, doing a puzzle, etc.

Express gratitude and appreciation for what you have; share these feelings with others

Consider getting away to a relaxing, peaceful location for the holidays

Seek professional help if you find it difficult to have happiness during this holiday season

 
WE PRACTICE TELEHEALTH AND IN-OFFICE VISITS; WE CAN HELP!
Call us at 954 755-2885 or email us at [email protected]

        Joel I. Kimmel, Ph.D. P.A. and Associates
        5551 N University Drive, Suite 202
        Coral Springs FL 33067

As always, we are interested in your thoughts. If you would like to respond to this e-Letter, email your comments to [email protected] and we will publish them next month.

Till January 2023…

The information provided in this electronic newsletter is not a substitute for professional treatment. It is the opinions of the writers and is provided solely for educational purposes. For mental health care, seek a qualified professional.

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Copyright © 2022 by Joel I. Kimmel, Ph.D. P.A. and Associates.