Tips for coping with the holiday blues

This year has been one for the books: a pandemic, murder hornets, wildfires in Australia, civil unrest, a U-S presidential election. The list goes on.

Now the holidays are before us and if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed or feeling sad because celebrations won’t look the same for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, you’re not alone.

U-W Madison clinical professor in the School of Human Ecology Dr. Christine Whelan says this is the year to create a new way of doing things and throw expectations out the window.

“What I’m advising everyone do- is try to do a couple of things. First, get outside as much as you can. Get outside even if it’s not warm. Get outside even if it’s not sunny. There’s more sun outside than there is inside and that really can boost your mood,” said Whelan.

She also suggests finding safe, creative ways to gather with people.

For more tips and suggestions on how to have a hopeful holiday, click on the link above.