When the Holidays Feel Heavy

The holidays are coming fast. For some of us that means lights, family, and the best food of the year. For others it means dread. An empty chair at the table. A job that's falling apart, or no job at all. A heaviness you can't quite put a name to.

You're not the only one

If that's you this year, you are far from alone. In a recent American Psychological Association survey, most adults said the holidays bring them stress, and 41% said it's worse than the rest of the year. More than a third pointed to missing family or loved ones.

I don't have a magic fix. But I do have two simple things I'd encourage you to try, starting this week.

Get to church, and give it more than one try

This is the big one for me. Find a local church and go. Bring your family if you can. If you're going alone, go anyway. There's something about being in that room, around other people, worshiping and hearing the Word, that you just can't get sitting at home with your thoughts.

Here's the thing though. Don't make it one and done. The first church you walk into might not be the right fit, and that's okay. Every church has its own feel, and every pastor or priest delivers the message differently. Some will speak right to where you are. Others just won't connect with you, and that doesn't mean you did anything wrong.

• Give it a few tries. Visit more than one church before you decide anything. It can take a few attempts to find the right fit.
• Listen for the message. If the pastor or priest isn't connecting with you, that's a fit question, not a you question. Try another.
• Go with family, or go alone. Both count. Just being in that environment matters.
• Look for your people. The goal isn't checking a box on Sunday. It's finding people who will encourage you and do life with you.

Researchers at Harvard have found that people who attend services regularly have a lower risk of depression. I believe a big part of that is simply not walking through hard seasons alone.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.Joshua 1:9

Not ready for that? Lace up for a Turkey Trot

I highly encourage that first step. But if you're not there yet, here's something you can start today. Go outside and run. Or walk. Set a goal of finishing a 5K.

Today is October 27. Thanksgiving is November 26. That gives you almost exactly one month to get ready, and that's plenty of time.

If you're not excited about the holidays this year, for whatever reason, this is something you can get excited about. A date on the calendar. A finish line. Something that's yours.

• Sign up this week. Search for a Turkey Trot near you and register. Having a date makes it real.
• Start where you are. Walk, jog, or mix both. Harvard researchers found that running just 15 minutes a day, or walking for an hour, lowers the risk of major depression.
• Get outside. Fresh air, and depending on where you live, a little sunshine and vitamin D.
• Be around people. Whether you talk to anyone or not, it's different being in a crowd all moving the same direction than being stuck at home replaying everything that's gone wrong.

And once you cross that finish line, you've got momentum to carry into December and beyond.

Make the most of this day

Two simple things. Get to church and keep looking until you find your place. Get moving and give yourself something to look forward to. Neither one fixes everything, but both get you out the door, and sometimes that's the hardest step of all.

Make the most of this day and every day moving forward. God bless.