All Out of Holiday Cheer? 10 Tips for Beating Holiday Depression

1. Throw an "orphans" party. If you're facing the prospect of a lonely Christmas, gather up your single friends and anyone you know whose family is far away and have a party.
2. Get active. Go sledding or skiing, take a hike or just bundle up and take a long walk. The fresh air, sunlight, and physical activity will do you good.
3. Start a new tradition. One big reason people get wistful this time of year is that the traditions they've always practiced remind them of people who are gone.
4. Have a salad. The fatty, sugary, and salty foods that make up a big part of traditional holiday eating can all make us feel sluggish and mopey, even if we have no particular reason to feel down.
5. Avoid the liquor. Alcohol is a depressant and if you're already tending towards depression alcoholic beverages can speed up the downward spiral.
6. Find a "Blue Christmas" service near you. Many religious denominations are adding "Blue Christmas" services to their schedules, recognizing the special need to minister to those for whom Christmas is too much to bear.
7. Embrace imperfection. The holidays put a lot of pressure on us to do everything just right. Try to lower your expectations to a realistic level.
8. Get some light! Artificial light is no substitute for sunlight.
9. Volunteer. Depression often comes with a feeling of uselessness, so make yourself useful by volunteering.
10. Practice personal productivity. Stress is a killer this time of year, and personal productivity is intended first and foremost to minimize stress.