The holidays can be a time of celebration, love, joy and happiness.

But for many people, the holidays can also bring added worries, stress and sadness. Concerns about money, lack of sleep, excessive demands on time, and intense family relationships can contribute to feeling blue. Feeling sad can make people more likely to become physically sick, depressed, or eat, drink alcohol or consume drugs in excess.

The mental health counseling staff at Friends of Youth have put together some helpful tips for beating the blues:

• Set realistic expectations about gifts and activities.
• Keep things in perspective by focusing on what is important about the season to you and your family.
• Take time to enjoy the small things, a walk with a loved one, the smell of rain, the sound of poetry — be mindful of your environment and try to be more accepting of those around you.
• Make connections. Meet and celebrate with family and friends. Reconnect with friends or family you haven’t seen for awhile. Reach out to help others in need.
• Take care of yourself. Accept and ask for the help you need. Try to get regular sleep and exercise. Eat healthy food. Take more vitamin C. Take short breaks (from 1-5 minutes) to breathe deeply and relax.
• Laugh as much as possible — laughing can reduce physical stress in your body, improve your mood and even help you fight off viruses.