Preventing Holiday Blues: Tips for a Positive Season
December 13, 2024
According to a famous holiday song, Christmastime is “the most wonderful time of the year.” Of course, celebrating Jesus’ birth certainly makes it so. However, it can also be a time of heightened expectations and, for some, a time of loneliness or sorrow. If you tend to struggle through the holidays, here are a few ideas for moving through the Christmas season with joy.
Run Your Own Race
Social media has only amplified the comparison game. In normal times, it can seem like everyone else is having more fun than you. During the holidays, all the more so. What to do? Opt out of the comparison game. You could decide to do a complete social media fast. At the very least, practice selective listening. Choose what to take in and what not to take in. You can’t control every bit of communication that comes your way, but you can control a lot of it. That might mean unfollowing some people on various social media platforms and turning off notifications. Take in what’s encouraging. Just say no to what isn’t.
Practice Gratitude
The Bible tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). While it’s easier to express gratitude sometimes than others, consider this: gratitude is more than just a natural response to a happy circumstance; it’s also a choice.
Practice beginning and ending each day by identifying what you’re grateful for and giving thanks to God. Even better, keep a notebook with you and write down what you’re thankful for throughout the day. The sunshine and the snow. Green lights when you’re running late. God’s provision of each meal.
There’s so much to be thankful for—so many good gifts that are all too easy to take for granted. Being intentional about cultivating the habit of gratitude will help you notice, and it’ll do wonders for your soul.
Seek Community
If you’re feeling lonely during the holidays, chances are good that there are people you know who are feeling that way as well. Reach out to some friends. Invite them to go for a walk or to get together for coffee.
Isolation can magnify feelings of loneliness and sadness. And the opposite is true. Spending time with others and building them up will gladden your heart. The Bible says to “carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:28) and to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). It reminds us that “a sweet friendship refreshes the soul” (Proverbs 27:9, MSG).
Serve
Contact your church or a ministry in your community and ask how you could assist over the holidays this year. There are typically more opportunities to serve than usual at this time of year. That might mean wrapping gifts for children who are in the hospital, serving a meal at a homeless shelter, or writing a card to a mom who’s in prison. By lifting the spirits of others, you’ll find yours lifted as well.
Keep First Things First
This is a good time of year to read and reflect on Luke 10:38-42. The passage tells the account of sisters Mary and Martha, whose home Jesus visited. As Martha hurried about with “all the preparations that had to be made,” Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
It’s easy to get distracted, especially at this time of year. But this season is about one thing: celebrating the birth of Jesus. Spend time with Him in the weeks ahead. Read His word, pray, and reflect on this incredible Truth: “For God so loved the world that he sent His one and only son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
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Matt Bell is the author of Trusted: Preparing Your Kids for a Lifetime of God-Honoring Money Management. He speaks at churches and conferences throughout the country and writes the MattAboutMoney blog.
This article should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. You may wish to consult a tax or financial advisor about your individual financial situation.
