So many of us are enjoying the build up to the festive holidays; a time to catch up with friends and family, to indulge in some festive treats, to sing and dance, to have a tipple and to celebrate the end of a hard year and the start of new hope in the New Year!
But for some, this time of year can also be extremely tough! Many people can feel low, depressed, isolated, lonely and disconnected with little to look forward to over the festive period especially if you are single and yearn to be in a relationship. If this is the case, you could be experiencing the ‘Holiday Blues’!
Here is Made My Date’s Guide on how to recognise if you have the ‘Holiday Blues’ and what to do to look after your mental health during the festive period:
1.) What even are the ‘Holiday Blues’?
The best way to describe the Holiday Blues is how one feels when it comes to the anticipation of the holidays during the Winter months. While many are getting into the ‘festive spirit’ and looking forward to plans they have with friends and family, somebody experiencing the ‘Holiday Blues’ has the opposite feeling and is often dreading this particular period of time.
Often someone with the Holiday Blues can feel low, lonely, isolated, depressed, unmotivated and if you’re single and wish to be in a relationship you could have fomo of couples spending quality time together during this period too!
2.) How to recognise the signs that you are experiencing the ‘Holiday Blues’…..
Many people that experience the Holiday Blues go through a lot of emotional turmoil and changes in their behaviour. Some of these can be quite mild but others can be severe and even dangerous to one’s health.
The most common of which are a general lack of energy and motivation, and having dread when it comes to thinking about the approach of the holidays. This can lead to saying no to plans with friends and family, which can then lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Other more severe changes can be an increase in consumption of alcohol, drugs or even indulgent food which can all lead to serious health conditions. These can all have a toll on your mental health too and lead changes in mood, frustration, resentment, anger, sadness and even depression.
3.) Things that you can do to help your mental health when feeling the ‘Holiday Blues’……
The first thing that can help is to realise that having the ‘Holiday Blues’ is actually pretty common. Many of us have either mixed feelings or dread when it comes to the festive season for so many reasons. If you’re single and long to be in a relationship at this time of year, remember that there are many other single people that have the same feelings and desires too!
The other key point to remember is even if you feel like it, you are not on your own. Even though you may be feeling unmotivated and lacking in Xmas spirit, it’s very important to stay connected with your friends and family. Even if you don’t feel like going anywhere, you should! It doesn’t have to be to a Xmas party, or even the pub; it could be as simple as going round to your nan’s for a cup of tea!
As well as this, it’s important to remember that the festive period is temporary. It’s a matter of weeks or months rather than the whole year and certainly not a reflection of one’s life as a whole. When we think about it, this is also true for our moods and our feelings. We are in a constant state of change, that is one thing that is certain.
Many that are single also feel extra lonely during this time of year due to the fact that the end of the year is often a time of reflection. Often we think about the year almost past, what we have achieved, what we would want to change and if you’re single and want to be in a relationship; this time of year can be a reminder of that! When you see couples out and about you may feel envious or upset that you are not where you want to be in your love life and you wished you could spend this time of year with someone special too.
It’s important to remember that when it comes to relationships this is not something that comes easily and/or to everyone when we want. Relationships are not given to us, they take hard work and lots of understanding. The best way to deal with the longing of being in a relationship is to take positive actions! Go to that Xmas party, catch up with your friends and family and tell them how you feel, go on that blind date, sign up to that dating site! This time of year is actually the most popular time for those looking for love and new connections so use that to your advantage!
4.) If things persist or even get worse……
If your ‘holiday blues’ persist beyond the new year or your emotions get too much to handle, it’s very important to seek help. Your mental health is important and should not be taken for granted.
Many people may even have SAD and dismiss this as ‘holiday blues’ or depression or other conditions that go undetected or ignored, that if treated can make a world of difference to your mental health.
We recommend reaching out to your GP, mental health organisations and friends and family if you feel any of the symptoms of the ‘holiday blues’ in case it could be something else and/or to improve your wellbeing during the festive period.
If you’ve read our blog and would like to read more articles and blogs from Made My Date, don’t forget to Subscribe to our mailing list.
We also offer Coaching for Dating where we work with you to achieve your dating and relationship goals with a fully trained, professional coach improving your online presence, your chances of matching, a more successful dating life and improved communication in your relationships. For more information on our Coaching services, click on the Coaching tab of this website or get in touch on info@mademydate.net.
Made My Date 