This time of year is filled with the hustle and bustle of holiday season. For many, it is a time to celebrate with friends and family, but for others it is less about celebration and more about a sprint to January, and it can be difficult to watch your co-workers talking about their shopping lists, parties, brunches, and family celebrations.

So how can you cope at work when the holidays when your spirit is singing the blues?

Well, don’t be a Debbie downer, this will alienate your co-workers. There are a few things you can do to boost your spirits:

• Volunteer
• Be open to invitations (If someone invited, you’re not intruding)
• Cherish the time off and pamper yourself
• Do something really nice for someone in need (doing for others will lift your spirits)

Volunteering is a great water cooler topic and one that will likely interest your co-workers.

On the other hand, if you see a co-worker struggling during the holidays, strike up a conversation or do something nice. I think back to my early days in banking, and there was this one woman, she was much older than I, by 30-40 years. She had no family. She was nice, but many saw her as a nuisance, as did I. In reality she was lonely, but I didn’t really see that until the holidays rolled around. One day, instead of avoiding her, I brought her some cookies and we sat and had a cup of tea together. That one gesture didn’t rock her world or suddenly make her holidays great, but it did put a smile on her face. Doing something nice for someone else, this time of year, and at any point during the rest of the year, can make you feel good as well.

Now, I don’t want to diminish, in any way, the depth of depression people might be feeling this time of year. For many, it is situational and it will pass once the days start growing longer in January, but for some, assistance may be required. Please know there are many services and people available to help you if you feel your depression is overwhelming. Please seek help.

From everyone at Goodwin College, we wish you all the best this holiday season and wish you happy and healthy 2018.

Best,