Last year on Christmas Day, my husband found me standing in our bathroom crying. Poor guy. He asked if I hated my gift. I sniffed and stuttered, “No. I realized I only have seven more Christmases with them!” I could see the tension leave his shoulders as he pulled me in for a hug and said, “Ah. It’s a case of the post-holiday blues.”
It’s estimated that more than 60% of people experience some form of post-holiday blues, typically in the form of depression or anxiety, because of stress, memories, or unmet expectations. If you struggle a little through the end of December and into January, I’m right there with you. Here are 7 ideas we can use to beat the blues and feel more joy in the new year.
1. Keep the festivities going.
No need to pull the plug on Christmas right away. If you love the sounds, sights, and smells, leave the decorations up a little longer. In my house, we don’t take the tree down until after January 6th. We celebrate the Epiphany, when the wise men brought gifts to the baby Jesus. Fun fact: The 12 days between Christmas and January 6th are the OG 12 days of Christmas (before that partridge in a pear tree got so popular).
2. Call a friend or relative you didn’t get to see.
For some people, the post-holiday blues well up because they love the feeling of connection with family and friends and will miss it. Fill that bucket by FaceTiming with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while or reaching out to your favorite cousin across the country.
3. Rest.
You’ve been go-go-going since November 20th. Even if you love baking, caroling, decorating, and wrapping, you’re probably exhausted. Find something that allows your mind and body to rest. I always do a jigsaw puzzle the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Knowing I’ll have puzzle time to decompress gives me peace.
4. Feel your sadness.
Our culture doesn’t like feelings of unhappiness or discontent. Sadness gets written off as a problem you occasionally have to deal with. The reality is sadness can be helpful. Feeling sad can reveal what’s really important to you and help you grow in appreciation for what you have. When you feel the blues, ask what good things happened that you’re going to miss and consider how you can recreate them throughout the year. Maybe you start a monthly dinner with family that lives close by or bake cookies with the kids more often.
5. Tackle something that brings stress during the year.
You might feel crummy because you anticipate returning to work and school. Think of one stressor that work or school brings and what you can do to try to get ahead of it. Do you dread packing lunches? Search with the kids for a couple of meal prep ideas so you can make lunch just once each week. Are you dreading sitting in rush hour traffic every day? Make a plan to listen to a book a week during your drive, or find a podcast that will help you grow in your faith.
6. Set a monthly challenge or goal.
Are your post-holiday blues triggered by a lack of something to look forward to? I love having something other than the holidays that mark each month. Try brainstorming ways to challenge or set goals for yourself or your family throughout the year.
One month could be “explore our city,” another could be “learn how to crochet,” and another could be “read a devotional nightly before bed.” Having something new and challenging to look forward to each month can keep things fresh. And the brainstorming session could be a fun annual activity to wrap up the year together as a family.
7. Think ahead to next year.
Give “future you” a gift by writing yourself a letter. You can even address it: “To me. Open on November 1.” Stash it with your holiday decorations so you know you’ll see it. In this letter, write what brought you the most joy this season and what you wish you’d avoided. Tell yourself how you feel about the money you spent (maybe you give yourself an “attagirl” because you followed a budget) or how you wish you’d drank a little less alcohol or gotten just a bit more sleep.
Processing the season that’s passed will help you name what’s making you sad now and hopefully set you up for a healthier holiday next year.
If the post-holiday blues really get to you, listen to this episode of the iMOM Podcast, “Beating the Post-Christmas Blues.” Subscribe to the podcast to get new episodes every Monday.
What helps you get over the post-holiday blues?
