10 Ways to Beat the Holiday Blues
1. You need to connect with people. The worst thing you
can do is isolate yourself from the very people God may want
to use to encourage and restore you. Make plans. Dont sit
around and wait to be invited.
2. Set realistic goals. Organize your time by making
lists and setting your priorities in order. We often worry
the most about the things that matter the least.
3. Make a budget and follow it. If you spend too much
now, youll add yet another burden to the holiday season.
Dont let the gloom of debt cloud what should be a joyous
time of year. Focus on Gods true blessings and His
trustworthy nature ... Let your character be free from the
love of money, being content with what you have, for He
Himself has said I will never desert you, nor will I forsake
you. ~Hebrews 13:5
4. Contact someone youve lost touch with. This is a
perfect time to rekindle a lost relationship. You may find
that God begins a new chapter in your life.
5. Be honest with God about your situation. If the Bible
is true, and I believe it is, nobody cares more about you
than your Creator. He doesnt just discover your pain when
you notify Him in prayer. But you may find out about His
great plan for your life as you spend time with Him ... be
anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known
to God; And the peace of God, which surpasses all
comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Jesus
Christ. ~Phil. 4:6
6. Get plenty of rest. People tend to eat, drink and
party too much during the holidays. None of those activities
are conducive to a good nights sleep. The more worn out you
get, the more susceptible you are to depression and
discouragement.
7. Let go of the past and find new or different ways to
celebrate. While many family traditions are good, you may
feel in bondage to doing things you dont enjoy because thats
the way weve always done it.
8. Dont overindulge in holiday foods. There is a genuine,
negative physiological effect from foods high in sugar and
fat. Additionally, you may struggle with guilt from
overindulging. Moderation is the key.
9. Dont focus on what you dont have - focus on what you
do have. If you think about it, it wont take you long to
envision someone in a worse situation than yours. God has
neither abandoned nor forgotten you.
10. Get out of yourself and into other people. Your best
insurance against an empty holiday is pouring yourself into
someone else. Youll find that your burden eases as you
invest your life in another.
by Steve Arterburn