By Rebecca Do
Christmas is characterized by Starbucks’ Peppermint Mochas, the rush of an incoming shopping experience and drinking hot cocoa near the fireplace after you’ve just opened your early Christmas present.
There is such an overwhelming nostalgia surrounding the holiday season. It could be getting together with family or the seasonal traditions you make with your friends that make you feel that way.
But the times have changed and the years have gone by.
No longer is the holiday characterized by making hot cocoa with your mom the eve of, but increasing financial burden instead. You now realize that the holidays are busy and overstimulating instead of the fun they used to be.
The nostalgia of the holidays often leads to a more somber feeling. Some relish in the colorful lights and Christmas splendor and some prefer to hide away in their rooms until the new year.
But maybe Christmas has always been a corporate cash grab and now that you’re old enough to buy your own presents and go out on your own you’re realizing that Christmas has become a commercialized shell of its former self.
Everything has changed since childhood. Your chores aren’t limited to making a paper ornament and watching a movie in class anymore. You now have to take on your own responsibilities around the holidays.
“Why should you feel down when surrounded by the people you love?” is the question that people who get down in the dumps during the holidays get a lot.
Psychologists have described these “holiday blues” as “feelings of stress, anxiety, and sadness that surround the holiday season.”
Some ways to combat this include sticking to normal routines, setting budgets and starting new traditions.
Sticking to routines can help you realize that the holidays— are just regular days. It can help you realize that there really is nothing special about this time of year other than the fact that you get two weeks off from school.
Setting budgets can help you fight financial stress, just in case you went a little bit overboard buying those gag gifts for your friends last year.
Finally, starting new traditions can give you something to look forward to the next year.
These strategies might not work for everyone but it can help you feel a little less overwhelmed next holiday season.
