5 Ways to Deal With Post-Christmas Blues

We all look forward to that time of the year when we are surrounded by friends and family, with our social calendar at its peak. During Christmas, we eat, drink and have lots of fun. The moment the holiday season gets over, we suddenly feel the void. The sudden jerk back to our normal routine sometimes hits us more roughly than we can imagine. After enjoying the holidays, it becomes depressing to even think about returning to our normal daily life, which is filled with mundane tasks, tight schedules and lots of problems. So, if you are feeling blue or depressed after Christmas, here are a few tips to help you deal with post vacation depression!

Sometimes, children also face mood changes during or after Christmas holidays. Here are some ways to prevent holiday stress in children!

After Christmas – Dealing With Post-Vacation Blues

Let’s dive straight into the tips for overcoming post-holiday depression. 

• Relax!

During your Christmas holidays, you might have emptied your pockets and partied hard. Since you have exerted yourself during the vacation, it is now time to relax. Make yourself a simple home-cooked meal and prop yourself in front of the television to watch reruns of your favourite TV shows. You can even relax by soaking your feet in a tub of scented water and have a glass of wine handy to drink. These are also some of the ways to beat post-vacation sadness.

The period after Christmas is the time to rejuvenate, relax and repair the damages done to your body during Christmas such as overeating, attending late-night parties, etc. Try to relax by practicing yoga or deep-breathing exercises. You can also listen to some calming music or take a long warm bath. If nothing works, try meditation. Even a single day of complete relaxation can prepare your body and mind for the everyday tasks that you must take up in the coming days. Relaxation is essential for managing emotions after a vacation.

• Exercise

Exercise helps you relax and feel fresh. Do put on your pair of running shoes and go for a jog. Or, hit the gym on the days following Christmas and New Year. Working out is one of the best ways of dealing with post-holiday mood changes.

Most of us set unrealistic goals as Christmas or New Year resolutions such as, “I will lose 15 kilos in 3 months.” Instead, try setting short-time achievable goals like, “I will walk to and from the grocery shop today.” 

With realistic goals and resolutions, you can shed those extra kilos you’ve gained by gorging on Christmas treats. Moreover, exercise releases endorphins that will make you feel happy. So, start pumping that blood for navigating through post-holiday blues.

• Keep People Around

“If you are idle, be not solitary; if you are solitary be not idle!”

The above quote is from Samuel Johnson, the famous English writer.

During Christmas, we meet a lot of people, especially loved ones. So, when we part from them suddenly once Christmas is over, we feel the void. Try to avoid feeling lonely by meeting friends or frequent places where you can meet people. You can even host a pot luck party by inviting all your neighbours or acquaintances. The main idea is to either keep yourself busy by doing some task or meeting people so that you don’t feel too lonely. These are some of our tips for emotional recovery post-vacation.

• Sort Your Finances

During the holiday season, we usually end up burning a hole in our pockets. If you have acted like a spendthrift during Christmas, sort out your finances yourself or get assistance from one of your loved ones. This is one of the wise strategies for coping with post-vacation emotional slump.

By knowing exactly how much you have spent during your Christmas holidays and how much you have left in terms of savings, you can be better prepared for the future. Sorting your finances will also relieve you from the uncertainty about your financial status. Added to these, you will find out how you can save more money and limit your expenditures in the New Year. Hence, preparing a list of your past expenses is one of the strategies for post-holiday depression relief.

In case you find that you have spent a lot while celebrating and throwing parties during Christmas, don’t get alarmed. Such things are common, and you can deal with your spendthrift ways by ensuring that you keep track of how much you spend the next Christmas. In case you have debts, here are some simple steps to get rid of your debts.

• Get Involved in an Activity

Distract yourself by getting involved in an activity of your liking. It is one of the coping methods for vacation-related sadness post-Christmas.

Be it a pottery making class, a painting class or something like a book club. If you find painting to be your cup of tea, here are some painting tips and tricks for you! Enjoy sharing your love of an activity with others. You’ll find your calendar booked in no time with the added advantage of making new friends. In addition, your mind will be occupied in something creative, which in turn, can make you forget your post-Christmas worries for a while.

If you don’t wish to join a class, just bring your neighbourhood kids together and do something fun. You can even play video games with them or arrange some story-telling sessions. These are also some ways of navigating through post-holiday emotional dip.

Tips for Handling Vacation Depression Post-Christmas

Hope our post vacation depression relief techniques help drive your blues away. Staying fit by eating a balanced diet and working out regularly can do wonders for your body and mind. Keeping yourself busy goes a long way in fighting post-Christmas worries. Stay optimistic as you prepare for the New Year ahead. Whenever you feel low, think of all the wonderful and exciting things awaiting you the coming year!