Is it really already the third Friday in December?? Â How on earth is that possible? How is next weekend Christmas??
Today I’m taking a departure from my normal Friday Five post.
You see, the holidays have begun to leave me feeling drained, anxious, and stressed (and if you’ve read this blog enough, you know I love Christmas). Being a type A personality doesn’t help the situation either.  Some days I don’t know how I’m going to get it all done, and I feel like I’m sinking.  The more I sink, the more I struggle, then I end up sinking even more.  Like quicksand.  Does that make sense?
All through this, I think to myself. “why on Earth am I feeling like this? The holidays are supposed to be a happy time I have a good life, I shouldn’t be feeling like this.” I don’t want to look back and see I’ve missed out on the fun and magic of the season because I’m feeling weighed down. I don’t want the girls to look back and say “wow, mom sure wasn’t fun during the holiday times.” Unfortunately it’s not a simple task to beat the sadness. When I’m in the thick of it, it can be hard to get out of it.  So, I decided to make a list of five tips on how I am going to try to combat these holiday blues (like I said, it can be hard to pull yourself out of a funk).
Remember Jesus
No matter what, Jesus is the reason for the season. Christmas is about the birth of Christ. Jesus could care less about all the “things”. Being kind, caring, and showing love to others is what is important. When those feelings of sadness start creeping in, I’m going to *try* to stop and remember Jesus. Show the kindness to others that Jesus would want to see. It really is amazing how uplifting random acts of kindness can be.
Find the Wonder and Awe
As you grow older the wonder and awe tend to fade a bit at Christmas time. When you have kids it all comes back. Now that Annabelle is almost four she is really starting to get it. We are doing Elf on the shelf for the first time, and I love seeing how excited she gets looking for Jingle. She talks about how excited she is for Santa to come, and how she can’t wait to see all our family. Plus, her excitement about the snow is contagious. When I start feeling like I’m sinking, I’m going to try looking to Annabelle. Seeing the joy she sees in the everyday things.
Social Support
I’ve mentioned before how important I believe socialization is stay at home moms. Be home with kids all day can be quite isolated. This doesn’t mean you don’t love your kids, it just means that adult interaction is important. When the holidays come, life can get so busy, that we forget to nurture that part of our lives. I’ll be honest this is an area I have been lacking in. I’m really hoping to hit up more play dates or host more play dates.
Disconnect
Every where you turn, social media is there. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and so, so many more. While I try hard not to compare myself to others, I’m human and it happens. I see someone’s awesome post, and I’m like “damn. Why can’t I do something like that.” I’m not saying we shouldn’t post the happy parts of our lives, I know I do. Heck, most people I follow even post the not so glamorous pictures to keep it real. It’s just that social media has a way of drawing you in. What starts as “I’m just going to check something really quick” turns into 20-30 minutes of mindless scrolling. Scrolling that doesn’t really help to improve my mood. Why not use that time to do something I love? Why not try to connect in real life?
Do Something
The last thing on my list is pretty open ended. Do something. Really, do something you like, anything. This could mean read a book. Bake some cookies (with our without kids). Sew, paint, craft, run, have a dance party, photograph something. Really anything. I find that when I’m being crafty, I’m less likely to feel like I’m sinking. Doing things you enjoy help take your mind off the holidays, and can really help boost your mood.
So, there are my five ways I am going to try to tackle the holiday blues. Please keep in mind, I am not a doctor or psychologist. If you are having major feelings of sadness or depression, please reach out to a professional. You are worth it, and there is no need to suffer in silence.