It is a new year, and many people are currently struggling with seasonal depression, which is especially common during the holiday season and the new year. People could feel down about things they haven’t done and even though people should be happy around this time of year, it can sometimes feel hard to join in on the fun. Seasonal depression affects about 10 million Americans and about 3% of all people worldwide. Although it is extremely hard to get rid of, there are ways to make it easier.
A way to help yourself feel like you accomplished more is to think about your own achievements you have made over the past year. Thinking of how others could accomplish something you didn’t can increase feelings of not doing good enough. Instead, reflect on things that you have done that have made yourself proud over the years. This will help you have a more positive mindset for the upcoming year.
Another option is to do things you enjoy as opposed to doom scrolling on social media. Many people who lay in their beds and watch things like Tik Tok and YouTube are more likely to feel down and depressed. Instead, do things you enjoy like playing an instrument or drawing a picture. You can even use this time to find new hobbies you love and explore your horizons. This will be a distraction to the brain and it will have you feeling lighter than if you were to doom scroll.
Another big thing that is probably the most important is to talk to someone you trust like a family member or a friend. The worst thing you can do when you experience sad things like this is to bottle it up and let it spiral. It is always beneficial to talk to a loved one you trust about the problems you experience, as keeping it to yourself is dangerous and only makes things worse. Talking about your feelings is a way to get the grief off your chest and to get support for those feelings as you try to better yourself.