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Coping with the After Holiday Blues

What to Do when the Excitment is Over

Dec 29, 2008 Kathy Schlossmacher

The holidays are fun! For most people they include celebrations with friends and family that include traditions and customs that cheer the soul.

Yet, the holidays come to an end. Although the fall/winter holidays seem to run into one another, and are at times a source of stress, they are also often the most festive time in people's lives. They are a time when old friends gather together to catch up and families reunite from their scattered locations.

Unfortunately the holidays come to an end. We finish unwrapping the presents, see people off at the airport and take down the glitter and gold so readily put up to spice up homes. Photos have been taken and downloaded so that there exist instant memories of what just came before. But now what happens. People return to work the first day full of tales and memories to share. Soon, however, the tales are old and the memories are shadows and for some there is large sense of let down after the season is over.

How to Fight the Feeling of Let Down

The sense of being down after all the festivities is not something unusual. Remember that for the last couple of months people have been engaging in parties, meals and company to a much larger extent than normally practiced. There have been presents and all the excitement that goes with new things. Even homes look different with all the decorations and lights placed accordingly.

The first thing to do is to recognize that one is feeling down and to remember that this is not an unusual feeling. Accepting and living with the feeling will help it pass quicker and will help the person noticing it to take action to heal it.

Do nice things for the self. Do things that make you happy. Whether that be a long hot bath, creating a scrapbook of the holiday photos or simply listening to comforting music in dim lights with soft music.

Make a date to do something with a friend. While before there was so much to do, people may feel that suddenly the social life they have grown used to has stopped. Keep the fun stuff going by making other plans that include the same people you so enjoyed the holidays with.

When you return the inevitable one gift that didn't fit or wasn't you, make sure you use the money for something you really want, and not just as a contribution to your latest credit card bill.

Just as you surrounded yourself with the sights and smells of the season, continue to surround yourself with sights and sounds of everyday life. Use scented candles in your home, wash your clothes with a distinct scent, dress up a little to improve your mood.

Most of all remember the let down does not last forever. Things return to normal, to ordinary time in its positive sense. And don’t worry Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

The copyright of the article Coping with the After Holiday Blues in Psychology is owned by Kathy Schlossmacher. Permission to republish Coping with the After Holiday Blues in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.