Tip of the Month for December 2009: Priscilla Tinsley of Morrow Insurance company here in Brevard NC, has always had some of the best advice. http://ping.fm/2i8D2
This months is one that is a bit of a follow up of what I wrote on about Winter Depressions and very timely.
With the holidays here and the economy as such, the "holiday blues" may try to consume your life. Many factors can attribute to the "holiday blues": shorter daylight hours, fatigue, financial constraints, communication, and the inability to be with ones' family and friends during the holidays. There are several steps you may take to have a happy holiday season:

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◦Set realistic financial and time goals. You may have a limited amount of holiday spending funds. Remember, it is the thought that counts, not the price you pay. Often a home made gift, or a hand-me down gift is more cherished and less expensive than a purchased item. List and prioritize your seasonal activities. Do only the ones at the top of the list and that you have time for. Let others share the responsibilities of holiday tasks. Make time for yourself.
◦Volunteer to help others.
◦Avoid or limit your consumption of alcohol. Alcohol is a chemical depressant.
◦Spend your holiday time with supportive and caring people. Reach out and make new friends, or contact someone you haven't heard from in a while.
◦Some people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) as a result of the shorter daylight hours. Phototherapy, a treatment involving a few hours of exposure to intense light, is often shown to help alleviate the systems from SAD.
◦Acknowledge your feelings. Sometimes it is okay to feel sad and grieve. It is okay to take time to cry and/or express your feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just because of the holidays.
◦Live in the moment and enjoy the present.