New Year, New Blues
Remember back in November and December when we were all so happy and delighted about the holiday season? The cozy glow of the lights, your house filled with family and friends. Lots of things to do and think about. The excited frenzy before each holiday that just can’t be beat. Well, here we are in January in the midst of the gray and never ending days. The lights are down, the company has gone home and you’re feeling the holiday letdown big time.
Although January can bring on some exciting feelings about a fresh start, it can also bring a lot of feelings of sadness or being down in the dumps. Think about it, the things we love are now gone and over with. We’ve packed up the decorations and life is going back to normal. But there’s also some daunting tasks like paying all of those holiday bills and getting everyone back on schedule. This can be a challenging time, but here are some tips for dealing with holiday letdown:
Remind yourself it is normal to feel letdown after the holidays. You spent a lot of time and effort doing wonderful things for those you love. Now that it’s done you might feel a little empty and that’s completely okay. It’s normal to miss the happy and beautiful parts of the holidays once it’s over. You are not alone in these feelings.
Try to focus on the next thing to look forward to. Instead of wishing for something to come back that has already passed, set your sights for the future. This can be something small or something big. Just make it something that will pull you in a positive direction. Maybe you host a slumber party for your kids’ friends where you have a themed movie night. Or make a reservation at a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try for a date with your spouse. Keep your eyes on the events coming up you have to look forward to.
Get back into rhythm. Every mom has a sense of routine and structure that most of the year follows. We all know during the holidays things get thrown into the air and it can be hard to get that sense of routine back. Just think about the most simple things first. When do the kids go to bed? When do you do laundry? What happens in the mornings before work and school? Falling back on routines and schedules can help you get back into a steady rhythm and feel less chaotic after the free-for-all schedule of the holiday season.
We know it can be hard to shake the feeling of the post-holiday letdown, but these simple changes to reframe your mindset should make things feel a little bit better very soon!
