Many people feel lonely during the holiday season. Everyone is going on a vacation and posting pictures of their family during Christmas celebrations; however, some people may feel left out. So, PhDs Kory Floyd, Sabine Schmid, and LMFT Jessie Everts share a few simple ways to grow closer to others while finding peace within yourself at the same time.

Taking a Break from Social Media

Kory Floyd, Ph.D., says that people often believe that they somehow deserve to be lonely. However, it’s not a shortcoming – it’s a temporary state because the holiday season can be quite difficult. The sense of isolation in people can be worsened by colorful Instagram or Facebook media posts of holiday “perfection.” The thing you need to do is to remind yourself that the pictures you see on social media are highly curated and don’t tell the whole story. Take a break from social media for 48 hours so that you can refocus on your needs.

Time Can Heal

Being lonely is like being hungry. It’s like a signal that is aimed at motivating us. This is what Sabine Schmid, Ph.D. thinks. The truth is, you can still be lonely in the presence of people. That being said, it’s important to ask yourself what exactly you are missing. If you have recently lost a loved one, for example, the holidays can be quite difficult, no matter how many friends and close ones you are surrounded by. Time for grieving may be the first step toward healing.

Loving-Kindness Meditation Can Help

Expert Jessie Everts says that one of her favorite meditations is loving-kindness. Stop and think about someone you truly care about and send them positive thoughts. Furthermore, expand this circle by sending good wishes to all those who are lonely. This fosters a sense of shared humanity, as your wishes are reflected in you.

Baby Steps to Deepen Bonds

This may sound a bit counterintuitive; however, individuals who feel lonely tend to avoid others. People often tell Schmid that if they call a friend, this makes them feel like they have to reach out, and this makes them even more left out. It may be hard at first, but Schmid encourages taking small steps, even if it’s saying hello to a neighbor. It’s a simple shift that can reduce your self-focus and boost your confidence to take further action, like reaching out to loved ones when you are feeling lonely

Nothing beats a delicious cookie when you’re in the mood for a snack! Cookies are very versatile and the possible flavor combinations are endless. Today, we’re trying out a refreshing and fragrant ginger-citrus cookie recipe that’s sure to impress!

What’s Needed

For a yield of 28 cookies, prepare the following ingredients:

• Candied citrus peel – 2 cups of 2-inch wide strips of preferred citrus fruit zest and 2 cups of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
• A quarter teaspoon of founded clove
• Half teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• Half teaspoon of ground cardamom
• 3 and a half cups of flour
• 1 tablespoon of baking soda
• Half a teaspoon of ground white pepper
• 1 tablespoon of salt
• 10 tablespoons of room-temperature unsalted butter
• Half a cup of brown sugar
• A cup of granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• Three-quarters of a cup of light molasses

Making Candied Citrus Peel

In a medium saucepan, place the citrus zest and cover it with cold water. Bring to a boil, rinse and repeat the process twice. In the same saucepan, combine two cups of sugar and water. Bring to a boil and stir to melt the sugar. Add the citrus and reduce to a simmer until the peels are translucent or about 30-45 minutes. Leave the peels to cool in the syrup. Drain and finely chop the citrus zest.

Preparing the Cookie Batter

Preheat the oven to 350. In a skillet, toast the spices on medium heat for about 2 minutes until fragrant. In a medium bowl, sift the toasted spices, salt, pepper, baking soda, and flour. In a large bowl, mix the butter and both kinds of sugar using an electric mixer until fluffy. Mix in the eggs one at a time, followed by the molasses. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients and stir in the citrus peel by hand.

Bake and Cool the Cookies

Line a baking tray with baking skeets and place spoonfuls of batter about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let the cookies cool for a few minutes before transferring them to a cookie rack to cool completely.