Ah, Christmas 2020. We're finally SOMEHOW here. A week that I reluctantly dread, but also feel guilty about wanting to magically skip over entirely. I've spent years trying to come up with my own traditions to make the holidays less depressing, and while some ideas have brought me peace, I am still left feeling somewhat empty during this season of the year. It's the inevitable downward spiral once Halloween is over. Halloween is my Christmas. I THRIVE during Halloween (maybe it's because I'm so dead inside). Then there's Thanksgiving which is just an excuse to eat a shit ton of carbs and be lazy- and no, I'm not judging. And after Thanksgiving it's game time. My seasonal depression makes her grand entrance, and I'm left feeling blue for the rest of the year. Don't even get me started on New Year's. I always question my entire existence waiting for the ball to drop and promising myself I'm going to work harder in the new year, stop hating myself, and finally take that bag full of clothes to Goodwill even though it spent the entire year in my trunk. *Baby steps* I don't hate Christmas per se, but it's more a love-hate. The decorations? Sign me up! The music? Only after Thanksgiving please. Santacon? Yes bitch! Rewatching The Holiday every single night? You know it! Having multiple family get-togethers because your parents are divorced and none of you have the same work schedules or live in the same city? It's a no for me, dog. But then when you say it out loud it sounds so much worse. That's when I feel guilty.
How am I supposed to be holly-jolly when I am feeling so depressed? The holidays aren't easy for many people. Coming from someone who has seriously been through it before, I absolutely understand and relate 100%. As someone who's struggled during the holidays for many years now, I've realized that there are ways for me to endure this time of year. 1. You have to eat. Plan out your meals for the week and make sure you pick something that actually sounds good and you'll enjoy eating. This will make cooking easier for yourself, and you won't feel like shit (physically). We're getting to the emotion thing. 2. Start your own traditions for the holidays. I am OBSESSED with The Holiday (if you didn't catch that earlier), and I love the scene when Kate Winslet and Jack Black make fettuccine for themselves on Christmas Eve. Before Adam and I started dating I would make fettuccine for myself and it was such a vibe. Now that I've got a man, we take Christmas pictures every year and it's so fun! Pick something that YOU want to do. Even if that means setting healthy boundaries to make sure you show up for yourself. 3. Rely on something that brings you comfort. My "thing" is re-watching every single episode of Broad City on Hulu. I've seriously seen every episode probably 20 times. It's not just background noise for me. I actually watch the show and laugh as if I'm seeing the episode for the first time. The holidays can be extremely taxing emotionally, physically and shoot, even financially! Even though it shouldn't be... Rely on that "thing" you find comfort in. It could even be as simple as snuggling up with your favorite blanket or taking a hot shower! If you take the hot shower route, I DEFINITELY suggest making a shower playlist. Add some SZA for a little *spice.* This year has been freaking weird, and I feel as if I've been living in the twilight zone. This was definitely not the Roaring Twenties I had in mind! But the good news? We're still here. It's so hard, but we can try to make the most of things where we are. This year Adam and I will be off work together most of the week which is a Christmas miracle! The Bachelorette finale is on Tuesday (#TeamIvan), and Thursday we are making fettuccine and opening the gifts we got each other. In the words of Jack Black, "We're going to celebrate being young and being alive!" What are your holiday traditions? How do you manage stress during the holidays?
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