Unhappy Holidays

Our cause of sadness is often related to the fact that we compare our lives with the lives o the people we follow and that seem to be having loads of fun on social media

Try to avoid social media during holidays and during mandatory social gatherings. Also, avoid gatherings that drain your energy.

Negative emotions can sap us from the inside. Create your happiness by observing and learning from your negativity by using self-awareness

Brighten your day by being generous, providing funds to the needy, holiday gifting to the poor, or doing some volunteer work.

Many people believe therapy is something you need when you are not satisfied, happy or content with life.

Mental illnesses go far beyond being happy or sad, and many people that don't think they need therapy may, in fact, be in acute need of it.

• It’s a myth that mental health and happiness mean the same thing.
• Happiness is just another emotional state, like sadness.
• Depression is portrayed as not being happy, which is untrue.
• The pill-popping generations label anti-depressant pills as Happy Pills, which is also misleading.

The Sunday are a form of “anticipatory anxiety,” that's why concerns might creep in as you consider the upcoming week.

Worrying about future events is human nature. But prolonged anxiety can lead to chronic stress, which increases your risk of health problems, including depression, heart disease, digestive problems, sleep issues, and more.

Treating yourself well on Sunday can help you feel better about Monday. You can try:

• Serenity—a form of relaxation, like meditation or deep breathing
• Exercise—anything from yoga to running
• Love—expressing gratitude
• Food—eating nutrient-rich foods high in vitamin B6 and avoiding caffeine and alcohol.

See networking from a different perspective: You’re not just networking because you should; you’re doing it because it’s good for your career.

Think about the people you would like to get to know and then carve out time to accomplish that goal:

• A few before the conference, make a 'priority wish list' of people you’d like to meet. 
• Send those people an email introducing yourself and asking to meet; if possible, get an introduction from a mutual friend or colleague.

Practice Joyful Yoga sequences like these to embrace and celebrate the holiday season, creating inner space and mental clarity.

It generates resilience, it empowers you to be flexible, and gives you the ability to identify problems, accept negative feedback from others, and change habits that no longer serve you.

• Use lunch as an act of self-care. Take a moment to notice this nourishment you’re giving yourself. 
• Remember that, just like you, everybody feels like a fraud to a certain degree.
• Helping people makes us feel good about ourselves and connected to others. So, instead of defaulting to “No, thanks” or “ I’m fine” when someone offers you something, try saying yes.

Happiness is not a goal or something to pursue at a later time. Emotional health is a skill to be mastered, not a destination to eventually arrive at.

And being happy is being linked to an active lifestyle, a better diet, better sleep, better weight management, lower stress levels, an improved immune system, and increased life expectancy.

Get perspective and clarity on which area of your life you have to focus on. Start by analyzing, examining and identifying the problem areas:

• Fun and Recreation
• Physical Environment
• Career
• Finances
• Personal Growth
• Romance
• Family and Friends
• Health

• Look for support from people who make you feel safe and cared for. They just need to be a good listener.
• Make face-time a priority. Talking to someone face to face about how you feel can play a big role in relieving depression.
• Try to keep up with social activities even if you don’t feel like it. 
• Find ways to support others. 
• Caring for a pet can get you outside of yourself and give you a sense of being needed.
• Join a support group for depression. 

Do things that relax and energize you. This includes following a healthy lifestyle, learning how to better manage stress, setting limits on what you’re able to do, and scheduling fun activities into your day.

Even if your depression doesn’t lift immediately, you’ll gradually feel more upbeat and energetic as you make time for fun activities.

After a whole year of binging on unhealthy and processed foods, the post-New Year's detox can feel right. People love a shortcut. The problem is that shortcuts just not sustainable.

True health is about making long-lasting changes that you can stick to, and that's the opposite of what a detox really is.

Carbs, protein, and fat are the trifecta of perfection for keeping your body healthy.

• Carbs offer both physical and mental fuel
• Protein helps keep you full and is the building block of muscle
• Fat is satiating and often has skin-improving antioxidants.

When you eliminate these important nutrients, you may see slowed metabolism from drastically decreasing calories, dry skin, decreased energy, and crankiness.