Our first Christmas in our new house was a memorable one and the 75+ degree temperatures have been weird and wonderful. I loved having my in-laws, sister and her boyfriend staying with us and still can’t believe all of my recipes turned out exactly the way they were suppose to. I think spent more time in the kitchen over the last week than I have all year (more on this in another post)! And nothing can compare to a child’s excitement over Santa’s arrival. Lucas was a ball of energy all week!
But now it’s over.
Just like that.
For me the worst part of Christmas is the aftermath: the tree has been taken down, most of the gifts have either been exchanged, returned for the correct size or put away, the last of the pie has been eaten, family and friends have gone home, the mailbox is no longer bursting with greetings and thank you cards have been started.
It’s sad.
So much excitement and anticipation goes into prepping for the holidays and then all at once, it’s over and the warm fuzzy feelings disappear.
Here are some ways I like to combat the post-holiday blues:
- Create a scrapbook or fun collage to commemorate holiday memories.
- Begin (or in my case, resume) an exercise program. I went for a walk this morning and it was mind clearing and felt great.
- Daydream about summer and our next family vacation. We’re thinking Mexico and yes, with a new baby!
- Do something productive… as if I haven’t been productive the last few months, making a baby and moving, etc., but I spent some time getting Lucas signed up for swim lessons, soccer and researched karate classes. I also packed a bag for the hospital and renewed my domain name. All of these tasks have been on my To Do list for weeks and I’m glad to have them behind me.
- Treat myself. Like me, chances are you have been cooking and baking for family and friends and buying for others, so now is the time to schedule a massage or hair appointment, or some quiet time alone to curl up with a good book (or my brand new Kindle Paperwhite!!).
- I know I’m not the only one that feels this way, so I reached out to a friend and we had a great phone call recapping the last few days and planning for the upcoming weeks.
How do you avoid the post holiday blues?
Whatever you do to get through this time, know that these feelings will soon pass and more good times are in store!
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I took everything Christmas related down yesterday and it felt good and weird at the same time. I usually decorate about 5 weeks before Christmas and that time of the year is my favourite; when Christmas comes around I’m ready to move on and don’t want it to end at the same time 🙂
I have been keeping busy with planning for next year (I want to take the kids on a longer road trip, they just don’t know yet), planning for my business for next year and yes, I got back to exercising. That week between Christmas and New Year feels a little bit like that Twilight Zone 🙂
I started to feel the letdown creep in on Christmas Eve actually. The feeling of once it’s tomorrow and there’s paper everywhere no amount of music and cheer will bring it back to pre-Christmas happiness. Surprisingly (or maybe not now that I think about it), my son has kept the magical feelings going. He’s so excited still and appreciative and happy. So my advice to everyone is borrow a four yr old each year.
We left town Christmas Day to go visit my family. It wasn’t ideal, but it really did help with the post Christmas blues. It was like Christmas just kind of continued. And then I was so happy to be back in my own home, that today didn’t feel blue at all, even though there’s still post Christmas crap everywhere. I just spent most of the day cleaning up the random trash and putting boxes in the recycle.
When Christmas is done, the best thing for me to not get in a funk is to take it down. take it ALL down. Today Eddie and I put it all away, dusted, and vacuumed and it’s so…lovely. Toys are slowly finding new homes, new clothes have been laundered, and returns have been exchanged. I feel like in order to start my new year right, my house has to feel comfortable and clutter-free.
I like your tips, Tonya!
I find that getting back into regular routine right away helps with conquering the blues – I use the same strategy for when we get home from a vacation.
Good tips. This is the first time I remember really feeling a post-Christmas letdown and it sucks. I should take my tree and decorations down but I so don’t feel like it.
I do need to find some new goals though. And keep exercising.
Oh goodness, I need that massage you talk about! 😉
I know what you mean about all the prep and then it’s just OVER. I felt the same way about my wedding – ha!
Happy New Year, my friend. I like all of your ideas for beating the post holiday blues!
I love your ideas, Tonya. I know about those post-holiday blues. We took our tree and decorations down yesterday and it looks so bare in here. Today I am cooking and planning to go for a run in a little while and I feel a bit of the “normal” returning to our routine.
Taking down your tree with you was definitely sad but I am so excited and hopeful about the coming months ahead. Aaron and I even looked online at homes over the weekend! 🙂 Big changes happening for us all in 2014! And already planning a family trip?! Wow! And one to Mexico at that? You guys are fancy!
PS My hair looks CRAZY in that photo! Haha