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5 Ways to Avoid Holiday Blues

DearSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:00:00 -0800

The holidays can be a stressful time of year, so if you're prone to feeling down and out, check out my five tips on how to avoid the holiday blues. If I've left something out, tell us what works for you - the more tips the merrier! Source

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Do Tell: What's Your Uplifting Fix?

DearSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Sometimes when you're feeling blue - you got demoted or broke up with your boyfriend - the smallest thing can pep you up, just like that. For some it's ordering your favorite comfort food, for others it's splurging on that top you had your eye on but couldn't justify buying, and for still others, it's as simple as calling up your best friend for a good old fashioned vent session. Treating yourself always makes you feel better, and while I'm not an advocate of giving into your vices every time the going gets tough, I admit I like to do a little of all three when I've had a bad day! So what about you? Do tell, what's your instant upper when you're feeling down?

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Dear Poll: Do You Feel Down If You Don't Have Weekend Plans?

DearSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:00:00 -0700

My girlfriend just called to ask me what I was doing tonight and I excitedly said nothing! She couldn't have been more shocked and told me that if she didn't have plans on a Friday night, she'd automatically be depressed. Of course, she was exaggerating, but her reaction got me thinking. Truth be told, there have been times that I've gone out of my way to find a partner in crime to paint the town red with, but other times, the couch and a long bath is what takes precedent. Of course, it depends on my mood, but overall, tell me, do you feel blue if you don't have weekend night plans?

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Do Tell: What Does a Perfect Sunday Afternoon Look Like to You?

DearSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Mondays are rough; you’re tired from the weekend and still have a five day work week to deal with. The worst part is sometimes Monday woes put a dark cloud over Sunday afternoons. Sure, it’s still technically the weekend, but with Monday lurking right around the corner all you really want to do is crawl in bed and wish it was Friday night again. I’m being a little dramatic, but you get what I mean. I have quite a few remedies to cure Sunday blues but lately my favorite things to do are pretty simple: a leisurely walk or cuddling up with a DVD, followed by a lavish and classic Sunday night dinner. So, do tell, what’s your perfect Sunday afternoon?

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Girl Intervention

DearSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Even the most optimistic people feel down every once and a while; it’s only human. But sometimes, one day of feeling sad turns into a week and then a month and before you know it, you’ve go a bad case of the blues. The only thing worse than finding yourself in one of these phases, is having to watch a friend go through it.

You can be the best listener ever, but sometimes the only thing that works is a girl intervention, you know, when you and your friends plan an amazing day or evening for her in order to lift her spirits. There’s just nothing like a girl intervention to remind someone that they’re loved, and let's be honest, we all could use the reminder from time to time. So does your group of friends do this for each other, too? What are your tricks for cheering up your friends when life gets them down?

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Beat Those Winter Blues

DearSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 07:00:00 -0800

It's totally normal to be a little depressed in the Winter. It's gray, the sun sets before dinner, and the cold weather can make you never want to leave your house. For some people, Winter can cause a serious condition called SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Symptoms can include feelings of depression, hopelessness, anxiety, social withdrawal, loss of energy, appetite changes, and oversleeping. Here are some ways to help beat the winter blues:

Purchase a sun lamp. Even artificial light can boost your spirit and inspire a sunny disposition.
Open your blinds and curtains to let what little light is outside shine in.
Have a bunch of houseplants or fresh-cut flowers in your home and workspace to remind you of Summer.
Practice yoga in a heated room. It feels great to be able to wear a tank top and sweat in the middle of Winter. Plus all the stretching will increase circulation and create endorphins to enhance your mood.
Find a way to embrace Winter. There are a bunch of different activities that involve snow so see which one appeals to you. You can ice skate, snowshoe, ski, snowboard, cross country ski or go sledding. Instead of pushing away Winter, if you can find a way to enjoy it, you'll be much happier.

Want to see what else might help? Then read more

If cold weather is your mortal enemy, you can embrace Winter by staying indoors too. Find a hobby that you love, so you won't feel sad, lonely or bored if you're stuck inside. You can knit, quilt, scrapbook, play an instrument, bake, read, write, or do something else you love.
Take a vacation and go somewhere warm. It'll give you something to look forward to and a few days in the sun will make you feel happier.
See a therapist. Talking about your feelings with a professional can be beneficial. They might also recommend going to see a psychiatrist if they think medication might be necessary.

Dear's Advice: Keep in mind that there are only a few months until Spring!

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Do Tell: What Do You Do When You're Down?

DearSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:00:00 -0800

We all have our ups and downs, but when you're feeling blue, it's important to do whatever it takes to pick yourself back up. Every once in a while it feels good to just be down so you can evaluate your emotions, but no one likes a cry baby. So ladies, do tell, what do you do to change your mood when you're feeling down?

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The How-To Lounge: Coping With Coming Back to Work

DearSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 07:00:00 -0800

If you're like me, you were lucky enough to enjoy a few days out of the office over the Thanksgiving weekend, but coming back from vacation can feel like a catch 22 since it makes getting back to the grind all that much harder. Here are some helpful tips that might help.

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Keep in mind that you're not alone if you're struggling at work. It's always hard to get back into the groove so don't beat yourself up about it.
Your co-workers and friends will no doubt want to catch up and chat about your break the first few days back, but if a rap session will put you even more off track, shut your office door, turn off your instant messenger, put your phone on do not disturb and don't respond to personal e-mails until the end of the day.
Even though you are having a hard time settling back into work, the show must go on, so organization is key. The holidays are slow for some but considered the busy season for others so make a to do list and stick to it. Put out all the Thanksgiving fires first and then figure out what needs to be done before the Christmas holiday begins.
Listening to music and zoning everything else out always helps me concentrate, so give it a try.
If you get the after Holiday blues, plan something to look forward to and remember that Christmas is less than a month away!

I hope these tips help you this week and if it makes you feel any better, I'm in the same boat!

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Darth Vader's Secret Talent

GiggleSugar — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 03:00:00 -0700

The unmasking of Darth Vader was an epic moment in the "Star Wars" saga, but the movie didn't quite get it right. Unbeknownst to us all, big bad Vader had a secret hobby up his ~~sleeve~~ cloak and he'd be damned if this father/son bonding time didn't allow him a moment to showcase it. Woot. Woot.

How to Combat the Sunday Night Blues

DearSugar — Fri, 11 May 2007 10:16:41 -0700

Everyone loves the weekend! We look forward to them just as soon as they end, making plans as early as Monday in hopes of making the week fly by faster. If you're like me and have ever suffered from the Sunday night blues, here are some helpful ways to beat those feelings of depression when the weekend comes to an end.

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Most people get depressed when the weekend starts winding down, you're faced with the reality of having to go back to the "real word" whether it be work or school, which is not a fun realization for anyone!
While you might feel alone, the feelings of depression on Sundays, or whatever day your weekend ends on, are normal. Almost everyone feels the effects of the weekend blues from time to time so you shouldn't feel alarmed or too hard on yourself for feeling blue
Limit the time you allow yourself to feel sad. Dwelling on the inevitable will only make you feel worse
Although you are bound to be exhausted come Sunday night, do something active to stimulate your body, mind and spirit. Hit the gym, go for a walk, even window shop...anything to keep your mind off the anxiety you might be experiencing
If you are prone to Sunday night blues, make plans. Have a standing dinner date with girlfriends, or host a Sopranos party. Bring your friends together to make use of your entire weekend
Schedule phone dates with out of town friends on Sunday nights. Catch up and relive the fun parts of your weekend by swapping stories
The weekends are so great because they give you something to look forward too, so make midweek plans as well. Dinner dates, exercise classes, even seeing a movie will give you something to look forward to throughout the week
If Sundays make you feel overwhelmed about your busy work load ahead of you, get a jump start. Map out your work schedule, go through your e-mails, and get prepared for Monday morning. Writing out a to do list will help make your work load seem much more manageable
Sunday nights are a great time to do something nice for yourself. Go to the spa, get a massage, get your hair done (a lot of salons are actually open on Sundays), or get a manicure/pedicure, anything to make you feel good about yourself to put that extra pep in your step

I hope these tips are as helpful for you as they are for me. If you have any other tips you would like to share, please comment below!

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