Blow Off Post-Holiday Blues

The trouble with holidays is that they come to an end. One minute you're lying on the beach, the sun on your skin, thinking about which cocktail you'll order in the evening; the next you're back home facing a mountain of dirty washing, dead houseplants, 786 urgent emails and nothing to look forward to.So how can you get through this wall of post-holiday misery?

As the holiday season comes to an end, so, too, does the high octane way you've planned, shopped, traveled, and socialized. The holiday momentum of go, go, go, going screeches to a grinding halt.

Problem is, all the neurochemistry you needed to help you get through the holidays - stress hormones called cortisol and adrenaline – are leaving you feeling burned out, irritable, and just plain cranky.

Maybe your hopes for holidays with family and friends were unmet, and you now have to deal with emotional let-down. Then there's the march of the holiday bills -and thinking about paying the piper is not only depleting your bank account but your emotional well-being. All of these experiences are symptoms of Post Holiday Blues.

When that last drop of New Year’s Eve champagne is gone and the Christmas ornaments are packed away, many people enter a state of post-holiday blues. The anticipation and planning that begins with Jamuhuri (December 12th) ends when you open your eyes on the second day of January. It’s hot dry dusty, windy; the parties are over and it’s back to the daily grind. But you can beat the post-holiday blues.

Hitting January 2 is like going from 60 to zero in one day. The mandatory cheer, cooking, visitors, glitz, glitter, toys, a million chores -- have drowned out the drumbeats of war, the nuclear posturing, the fear of downsizing, all the doubts and fears, for a couple of weeks -- then, over, zip. What now?

Holidays often give way to 'divorce season. 'Tis the season for divorce, experts say. That's because the new year often brings a resolution from people to separate from their spouses, inquire about getting a divorce or start proceedings -- after delaying through the holidays for various reasons -- according to divorce lawyers and marriage counselors

The usual blah-blah New Year's resolutions -- lose 20 pounds, go to the gym more, spend more time with your family -- have a way of fading by mid-January as reality sets back in. You go to the office and facing you is a blank calendar. Before you get that sinking feeling -- think.

A blank calendar means, literally, a clean slate," "Think of something positive as of this very minute.

If you keep looking back at the old year -- especially last year -- you will get into a downward spiral.

Some Big Audacious Goals (BAGs)

Learn a second language. Even pecking at learning a second language can shake things up and head you in a new direction

Change careers. Every change starts with a defining moment -- maybe looking at your blank calendar of impending "same olds" can be that moment. Remember the job or city where you were happiest -- how could you get back to that?

Make more money. Start a second business. Find a safe place for your cash.

Join a dating service. No, not you married people! But if you are "between relationships

Plant a tree. The whole world is going green!

Whatever your BAG, it is not only important to put it in writing, but also to put in writing the steps you need to take and the obstacles you will face (this is allowable negative thinking).

Consolidate Your Position At Work

We are all living with tremendous uncertainty." It's much more important to identify what you do have control over. Do you have a "plan B," for instance? What if you do lose your job? Think about the worst and make a plan. "You can cut spending now," she says. Also, you can concentrate on communicating security and a sense of safety to your children, even if you don't completely feel it yourself.

Tips to Kick the Blues

Sleep. After prolonged periods of stress, the body needs more sleep to slow the production of cortisol and adrenaline. Schedule a pajama day to just do nothing and rest. Consider unplugging from technology to give yourself some time to refuel.

Exercise. Moving your body at least 30 minutes a day will help rid excess adrenaline and cortisol that keep you from relaxing and/or sleeping soundly. Walk, run, and play. Have a catch with the kids. Just move your body.

Look forward. Keep your eyes on the next prize. The next birthday, an upcoming concert, a sporting event, etc. This keeps you forward-looking into the year rather than concentrating on the past holidays.

Relive the Memories. Objects and experiences help us embrace memories. Make sure you wear that new shirt or have the holiday photos somewhere in view. Taking time to appreciate the best-loved holiday moments will offset sadness.

Talk about it. Sharing your emotional experiences with another can help you problem solve and feel connected, reducing the likelihood of depression taking hold. Talking is also a great way of revisiting happy moments, making sense of sad experiences and solidifying self-decision making.