“Help! I have the holiday blues”

We have such high expectations this time of year that it's easy to feel down. Here, simple ways to soothe your spirit and savor true holiday joy

- Kristina Mastrocola

Be kind to you

It's okay to be sad

Ask yourself why exactly you feel down, urges expert Margaret Wehrenberg. "Are you depressed, or more disappointed than sad? It's easy to confuse disappointment with other emotions like anger or depression." Indeed, the holidays make us take stock of our lives, and we may be yearning for something we thought we'd have by now. "The season bombards us with what we 'should' be, but accepting that it's okay to feel blue helps you let go of guilt and treat yourself kindly."

Question your thoughts

The stress of the holidays often triggers Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs), says psychiatrist Daniel Amen, M.D. "Whenever you have a thought that makes you feel sad, jot it down and ask yourself, Is this realistic?" he says. "If you think, Everyone is going to hate my homemade gifts, is that really true? Of course not!" Questioning your inner critic lets you develop more accurate, self-compassionate thinking.