Christmas is the time of year for joy and cheer. But lurking underneath the joy and cheer 
can be stress and depression especially this year with the recession. How can we move through Christmas and not feel stressed or depressed with all that we hear about the new budget and our current state of economics? Luckily, I have some tips that, though simple, could keep you out of the blues.
- Stop yourself from reaching for that glass of wine or alcoholic drink. I know, most of us think that alcohol will take the edge off a bad day and relax us, but in fact, it tends to make a situation worse. Alcohol lowers our resolves and keeps us in a negative state of mind, especially the day after we’ve had a drink. If you want to stay positive then thinking twice about a drink will help your mood from going up and down like a yo-yo.
- Watch the mind chatter. Yes, that little voice in your head is part of your problem. Every time you catch yourself saying something negative about yourself or someone else, replace it with a positive thought. Don’t leave those negative thoughts out their because they will find their way back to you only keeping you in a negative cycle.
- Limit your intake of news. Most of us are watching the news, reading the news and listening to the news throughout the day. Make a commitment to switch one of those off and enjoy the silence or take up a new hobby. By listening to the news you are feeding the negative thoughts leading you to more stress and depression.
Those are my tips for today. Just making those 3 simple changes will change a lot. If you find yourself feeling stressed and depressed seek out help or ways to release these feelings. Do something nice for yourself without feeling guilty about it. Ultimately, the only way to change is to give a little love to yourself. So this Christmas de-stress by making those 3 simple, easy changes and feel the difference.
Edie OReilly
