How to Kick a Holiday Funk

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🎁🎄🎅 The holidays 🎁🎄🎅

⁉️ Arguably the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ ⁉️

For many it is, but for possibly many more, the holidays are NOT the best time of year 😞

✳️If the holidays put you in a funk, you’re not alone.

▶️One North American survey reported that 45% of respondents dreaded the festive season. Hospitals and police forces report high incidences of suicide and attempted suicide. Psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals report a significant increase in patients complaining about depression.

There are a variety of reasons for ‘Christmas Funk’⬇️

  • Pressure to have the ‘perfect’ holiday celebration
  • Comparison to others who seem to do more/have more
  • Reflection over inadequacies in life
  • Pressure to buy, buy, buy and incur debt
  • Feelings of loss/loneliness

Social isolation is one of the biggest predictors of depression, especially during the holidays. People who have feelings of disconnectedness often avoid social interactions at holiday time. Unfortunately, withdrawing often makes the feelings of loneliness and symptoms of depression worse.

Confession: The holidays are NOT my favorite time of the year either. It takes a considerable amount of energy for me to overcome the holiday blues.

Here are MY best ‘Christmas Funk Busters’ 👊🏻

  1. Gratitude – No matter what the situation, there is room for counting my blessings.
  2. Focus on others – Helping, giving, serving makes me feel better and takes the focus off of ME.
  3. Focus on what I HAVE instead of what I do NOT HAVE – Similar to being grateful, I need to focus on the positive.
  4. Exercise – This is ALWAYS a solution.
  5. Get outside in the sunlight and fresh air – This is a natural mood booster.
  6. The right amount of ‘busy’ – Don’t over extend, but having ‘some’ social engagements is good.
  7. A mental focus – I keep my mind from wondering with a good book or a project of some sort.
  8. Eat well – I may indulge in some treats, but I feel best when I don’t go off the rails completely.
  9. Protect my sleep – I can’t function when sleep deprived; I can cope with pretty much anything when I’m rested.
  10. ‘This too shall pass’ – A lesson from my maternal Granny…Turns out that good times pass but so do hard times.

So, if the holidays have you feeling a little blue, hang in there.

❤️ Look after yourself

💚 Do something a little different this year

💙 Develop new traditions if you’re experiencing a loss of some sort

💛 Reach out to others

💜 And know that the holidays don’t last forever…

Also, make sure you MOVE…You can’t go wrong with exercising!

Here are a few options that you can do right at home:

👙My Bikini Belly Follow Along Workouts

🏋 Challenge Complex Workouts

🆘 Trouble Spot Training Series

🏃🏻 Treadmill Workouts 

*If you’re local to NW Calgary, then you MUST come for a few free workouts here.