What Makes People Happy? How To Cope During The Holidays.

Have you ever known someone who is a bastion of cheeriness?  Do you ever want to smack them for that?  How about someone who is generally sad?  With the holidays upon us, it’s important to stop a moment and consider the fact that a large percentage of Americans truly don’t like the holidays.  For many, the combined stressors of the holidays; work, house guests, parties, presents… and the list goes on, pile up to make the holidays a time to dread.  Add on top of that the litany of ongoing bad news and job cuts, and its no wonder that folks aren’t feeling the cheer.  When you consider that 5% of Americans suffer from persistent depression and anxiety anyway, I would hate to hear how that number changes during the holidays.  So, are there ways to cope?

Happiness is contagious.

Those who surround themselves with happiness tend have it rub off on them.  People who have friends that are happy tend to be happy themselves.  Unfortunately, Facebook doesn’t cut it.  You have to spend time in the presence of your friends to get the boost.  I would take that further and say that the more you surround yourself with happiness, the happier you will tend to be.  You can even make a game of it.  Go check out the happy guy’s website and sign up to receive quotes about happiness.

Exercise

There is a proven link between fitness and happiness.  Exercise reduces stress, gives you time to yourself, and provides your body with a much needed boost of endorphines.

Stick To A Budget

As much as we may want to, we can’t provide our kids with everything they want, and I’m not sure it would be good for them if we did.  We all need to learn to set boundaries and rules.  Instead of hitting the economic accelerator, spend time with the family.  Quality time.  That’s what they’ll remember anyway.

Eat Well

As much as we may all be tempted to overindulge during the holiday season, we usually end up feeling worse.  How many times have you gone back for seconds or thirds at the holiday buffet and then sat back asking “…how I ate the whole thing?…”  Think about that before you eat that third slice of apple pie.

Accept Imperfection

We all have a vision of giving our kids and family the perfect holiday.  Christmas carols, baking cookies, and holiday traditions.  It’s fine to aspire to those things, but rarely do we achieve the Normal Rockwell version of Christmas.  For us, its usually more like a Griswald Christmas!  And honestly, that’s O.K.  We’re together and if we can find fun and happiness in the disasters, then the holidays have been a success.  So accept the foibles as much as the Hallmark moments.  They’re your memories.

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