While many are busy making merry, for those who aren’t experiencing cheer, the holiday season can feel particularly isolating. High expectations, money woes, and other holiday hazards can spell trouble for anyone, but especially those prone to depression. With a bit of foresight and planning, however, holidays can leave you feeling up, not down.
Follow these simple tips for a successful holiday:
Build neurotransmitter health with nutrition. Did you know some of the same neurotransmitters that give us a sense of well-being also help drive metabolism. If they are low, you can feel blue, and the sluggish metabolism makes those extra holiday calories more daunting.
Improve adrenal function. Mounting stressors can tip our adrenals to state of dysregulation that can make it hard to sleep, relax and be merry.
Be mindful of what we are eating. As we reach for comfort foods and put diet on the back burner, we add to the fuel by engaging in a diet that is less healthy for the brain as well. Being vigilant about our blessings and making time to strengthen ourselves so we are more present is what holiday time is for.
Schedule it! Schedule time for shopping and cooking, but schedule that time for exercise and you. By breaking tasks down into pieces they are more manageable. A mindful approach can build you so that you too are feeling a time of cheer.
