The holidays are full of mixed emotions. On one hand, the experiences had with family members can make for some of the most cheerful memories. For many seniors, however, it can be tough to get into the holiday spirit when they’ve lost family members or spouses. Feelings of sadness and anxiety are all too real when they see others enjoying the experiences they once had. Not to fear, though! There are many ways to get around these blues and make for a fulfilling and worry-free holiday season. Here are some of the best ways to beat those holiday blues!

Get Out and Talk to People!

With the combination of lost loved ones, cold weather and financial pressure, it can be easy to lock yourself in your home and stay secluded. But, nothing will feed a case of the holiday blues like isolation. This task is even more difficult for retired seniors who no longer have the opportunity to converse with co-workers. This is why many seniors turn to senior living communities to get their daily fix of human interaction! Putting yourself together with people of the same age and interests can give you a new-found sense of togetherness during the holidays.

Stay Active

The anticipation of seeing family members and gift exchanges can put you in an increased state of excitement during the months leading up to the holidays. This creates a flood of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, creating the holiday joy we all know and love. Take that away, and you can be left in a holiday slump. A great way to combat the imbalance of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin during the holidays is to exercise daily! Making it a daily point to go on a walk or run on the treadmill will help your brain cope with the lack of “feel-good chemicals” that normally come about during the holidays.

Ditch Social Media

FOMO. It can be one of the nastiest of the four-letter words. If you’re unfamiliar, FOMO is an acronym for the phrase “fear of missing out”. Nothing can contribute to a case of FOMO like comparing yourself to friends on Facebook or Instagram. Instead of letting jealousy and envy infiltrate your holidays, stay off of social media and be thankful for what you do have! Try reaching out to friends or family via phone or text instead of checking in on them via social media. This way you’ll get updates only from people you actually like instead of people you don’t know!

Try Volunteering

If you miss the gift-giving of Christmas, try donating your time or money to somebody in need! To find a cause to donate your time to, you can contact your local United Way, or a local hospital, school or place of worship. Even if you don’t have the time, donating money or food to a local shelter can offer that extra sense of fulfillment during the holidays!

Forgive and Forget

For some seniors, holidays can be a lonely time not because of family members lost, but because of family members forgotten. It can happen to anyone. Resentments often carry over from one holiday season to the next until that relative is no longer a part of your holiday traditions. If you’ve been effected by past grievances, it’s never too late to use these holiday months as an excuse to rekindle past relationships! Declaring amnesty on a family member or friend can turn out to be one of the best gifts you will ever receive!

It’s important to understand that the holiday blues can happen to anyone. Just remember to take care of your mind and body this season. Even if you miss the activities of holidays past, we organize events like Secret Santa exchange, a resident family Christmas dinner, Christmas light viewing and much more! If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about The Wellington Senior Living, don’t hesitate to give us a call!