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The Effects of Seasonal Depression and the Holidays
- Sara Vizi
- Dec 16, 2025
- 5 min read
By Sara Vizi
Feeling down around Christmastime? It's not just you.
With the Christmas season coming around the corner, many people are preparing for the holidays by shopping for gifts, putting up decorations, and baking themed treats. Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, this time of year encourages community and gatherings with friends and family. Through the cold winter months, the holidays bring a bit of warmth and cheer to our lives. At least, that's how it should ideally be.
Many studies show that spending time with loved ones can boost overall happiness and fulfillment, while lowering levels of anxiety, stress, and feelings of loneliness (Hoffa, 2021). On that note, those who feel lonelier or isolated are more prone to feeling symptoms of seasonal depression.
(Image Source: Everyday Health)
What is seasonal depression?
Seasonal depression is common amongst many people, particularly for those who live in colder, gloomier climates. Unfortunately, many people suffer from seasonal depression. With the sky getting dark at 4 pm and the cold gloomy weather surrounding us, it's easy to feel down. Especially when daylight savings occurs in early November, the adjustment to the daylight change can be abrupt to our mind and body.
Did you know?
“Seasonal depression” is actually a non-clinical term to describe a mood change coinciding with a seasonal change. The clinical term for what most refer to as seasonal depression is ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ (SAD), characterized by a recurring seasonal pattern of persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” moods (NHIS, 2025). This can include feelings of hopelessness, burnout, and emptiness, among other signs. However, don’t mix up the typical winter blues with SAD!
It's very common to have less energy in the winter months and a slight decrease in motivation to be active. SAD, on the other hand, occurs when symptoms are more severe and persistent than what people typically experience in the winter (NHIS, 2025). It's normal to have negative feelings, but when it's prolonged and inhibits you from living daily life as you normally would, that's when it becomes more of a problem.
Though many people experience periods of SAD during winter months, SAD can affect people during any season. You may be surprised how many people experience SAD in the summer, for example.
(Image Source: Advantage Care Health Centre)
Christmas traditions are rooted in nostalgia
The pressure to fully enjoy Christmas can feel overwhelming. Especially as a university student with finals all the way up until Christmas, it's hard to feel festive when constantly studying and stressed about doing well on exams.
So many traditions are rooted in nostalgia - from decorating Christmas trees to exchanging gifts - the memories we have attached play a huge role in why we continue to pass on these traditions. It can be a blessing and a curse because on one hand, we have the opportunity to relive a bit of the childlike wonder that once came with Christmastime. On the contrary, reminiscing on childhood memories can put people in a negative headspace. For someone who experienced a more difficult childhood, Christmas can be a reminder that they never got those ‘normal’ holiday traditions as a child. In addition, it's common to feel that Christmas doesn't hit the same anymore as it used to. As life gets busier, it's easy to get caught up in responsibilities, naturally resulting in less energy put into celebrating the holidays.
While Christmas can remind us of good memories, it can also remind us of how much our life has or hasn't changed, whether that be in a positive or negative way.
Finances can also contribute to seasonal pressures.
Many people are finding that Christmas is increasingly feeling more superficial and rooted in capitalism. Starting even as early as September and October, brands start advertising their products for Christmas, trying to get you to purchase your gifts from them.
On top of that, there's almost this kind of competition to see who can give the biggest, best gifts, and who can spend the most as a way to show appreciation for one another. I know with myself, this makes aspects of Christmas, particularily gift giving traditions, feel less about genuine connection and more about capitalism.
Instead of spending money on meaningless items, prioritize experiences over physical purchases. This not only can be a more cost efficient alternative, but also can be more sustainable and better for the planet. For example, you may choose to visit a christmas tree farm, or go on a walk in a neighborbood with lots of christmas lights put up. These offer amazing chances to create new memories tied to Christmas. Especially if you’re struggling with comparing this holiday season to previous years in your life, trying something different rather than attempting to recreate memories and feelings can lead you to feel more satisfied with this season of your life.
(Image Source: USA today)
Ways to cope
First of all, acknowledge your feelings and remember that it's super normal to be feeling down this time of year. If you are experiencing negative feelings, dont beat yourself up over it! Here are some small steps to take if this time of year is more difficult than usual.
If you have exams coming up, make a study playlist that gives Christmas or winter vibes, however you may define that.
Some song suggestions:
Clockwork - Laufey
Wild At Heart - Lana Del Rey
Evermore (ft. Bon Iver) - Taylor Swift
Puddles - Not for Radio
Thank You - Clairo
Light candles! Even something as simple as a change of lighting can make a huge difference when its dark outside. Now, I hardly use the overhead lights at home and prefer to use various lamps
Bonus points if the candle(s) are christmas scented/themed
If feeling festive brings comfort to you, embrace the Christmas season as much as you can! If that means putting up a Christmas tree the minute it hits midnight on November 1st, then I would say it’s justified.
Prioritize spending time with loved ones, whoever makes you feel good and uplifted.
Bake! This could be a great low-cost idea for gifts, and also great activity to do with or for loved ones.
If money is tight, make an agreement with your people to replace gift giving with a low cost activity instead. You could also do a Secret Santa-type gift exchange so that you only need to purchase one gift instead of one for each person.
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