How to Beat the Holiday-Season Blues

Summer holidays are looked forward to with anticipation, but for many seniors, they can be a period of isolation and loneliness. As families and friends head away to beaches and baches, neighbourhoods quieten down, clubs and local cafes close, church services thin out or go into summer recess, and care agencies become short staffed, it can sometimes feel as if you are the only one staying home – and with no company to turn to. Part of beating the holiday blues, is to arm yourself with practical ways to keep up your spirits until your loved ones return from their break. And here are some suggestions for doing just that!

Find a new ‘local’

Just because your favourite cafe has shut up shop for the holidays, doesn’t mean you need to skip your coffee-out. In fact, it’s even more important you keep having it! Look online, or ask friends for a recommendation for a new venue, and make your way to it  –  on a daily basis, if possible. Try to go at the same time each visit, as you are more likely to encounter the same staff, and strike up an acquaintance.

Pet pals

If you don’t already have a pet companion of your own, why not adopt one for the holidays? You can do this in several ways: volunteer as a holiday dog walker or helper at your local animal shelter. (Dog walking, in particular, is a way to meet and chat with others who are out doing the same, especially when you head to a dog park). Put up your hand to care, in your own home, for a pet that can’t go on holiday with it’s owner (ask family, or your local vet, for suggestions). Or agree to visit a pet in its home to provide it with food, care, and company. (Having a destination to head for can break up the day in a pleasant way.)

Animal antics

Company doesn’t always have to come from people, or pets. Sometimes, being around animals in general is enough to lift your spirits. So head out to parks and aviaries to enjoy watching wild fowl and other birds. Or take yourself on a visit to a zoo or petting park (animals can feel alone over the holidays, too).

Create conversation

Sometimes, it’s not so much personal attachment we miss, in the short term, it’s simply the opportunity to talk to others. Whenever you go out, try to actively converse – whether it’s responding animatedly with the check-out assistant at the supermarket, the barrister at your cafe, or the neighbour you see across the fence. Just a few sentences a day with another person can change your feelings about the day.

Engage a caring caller

St John provides a free ‘Caring Caller’ service. When you sign up to it, you will receive a daily phone call from a caller who wants to chat with you for a time. Rather than feeling this service is a sign you’re ‘needy’, look on it as one of the many tools you can have in your tool box to stave off loneliness at a short but challenging time of the year. Pat yourself on the back for taking the initiative to make use of it. Who knows, after using the service, you may end up volunteering to be a caring caller, yourself!

Invite a visitor

Age Concern operates a visiting service. When you apply to be part of this, you’ll receive regular visits from an approved visitor you know you can trust. Make use of this valuable service while your regular company is away on holiday – it’s a positive, independent step to taking care of yourself, and it will help put your family’s mind at rest, too!

Happy home

While you are alone, create a lively vibe to your home with fresh flowers and music. Leave music (or the TV or radio) playing when you go out, so there is a feeling of life in your house when you return home. Purchase a new magazine, and leave it on the coffee table, ready to enjoy when you have a hot drink. Stock up on library books, and subscribe to an online movie site.

By being proactive about time spent alone, you can acknowledge the challenge, while taking steps to manage it!