Tips for Avoiding the Post Holiday Doldrums

It's holiday time. Party, rush, shop. Or maybe by now the holidays have just passed and you're starting to wind down. Winding down is great. As long as you don't wind down too far.

Many people experience the blues after the holiday season is over. You've seen all your friends, visited your family and cavorted with your coworkers. Now what? The season is over, decorations and pretty light displays are coming down and it's the heart of wintertime. Days are short and it's cold. It's perfectly normal to feel a little blue.

First of all, let me say that if you are feeling more than a little blue, you probably should seek some professional help. There are therapists and support groups for everyone out there who is experiencing major depression. Please take advantage of them. Things can get better.

But some folks get overlooked. They are feeling the post holiday blues and need a pick me up. Well, don't despair. I have gathered together some tips to help you avoid the Post Holiday letdown.

Spread out the Parties

Everyone is rushing around like crazy before the holidays to get everything done. Shopping, wrapping, partying, baking, cleaning, assembling and more. Why not just save a little bit of it for January or February? Plan to host a party after all the parties are over. You'll feel much more relaxed and have more time to plan it. Your guests will likely also feel that they have more time to enjoy the gathering.

You may have just gotten some lovely gifts of clothing or jewelry for the holidays, so this is a perfect time to show them off. If you've gotten new kitchen gadgets, why not look for some recipes to make use of that new mixer or deep fryer. Of course, inviting the people who gave them to you will score big points. Proudly display those new candles and home accessories.

Small Plans Can Go a Long Way

You don't have to plan to have the mother of all parties. Even small plans can give you something to look forward to. You might have just gotten some gifts that are, shall I say, not quite your style. Grab a friend and exchange them together. Instead of battling the mall solo, make a day of it. Meet someone for lunch and bring along the unwanted haul. If you can't spare a day, grab a friend and go on the fly.

Even plans with a friend to see a movie or grab an inexpensive meal are great dates to look forward to. Pick up the phone. Call some people who you haven't seen in a while. They'll be glad to hear from you too.

Even if you feel as though you don't have anyone to get together with, you can still give yourself some things to look forward to. Plan a date with yourself. Go window shopping. Have your nails done. Make a roaring fire in your fireplace. Take a class at the local college or adult education program. Go ice skating or take a lesson or two to learn how. There are lots of things you can do for a boost.

Lack of Daylight

Some people really feel the blues at this time of year because of the short days. There just isn't as much sun at this time of year, so your body can't make all the feel-good chemicals that it does in the summertime.

Without giving professional counseling, I have found there are a couple of things you can do to combat this. The first thing is to tale a multi vitamin. Believe it or not, the nutrients you take in have a direct influence on your mood. So invest in a good quality multi vitamin and you might just find a little lift.

Another way to avoid the post holiday doldrums and to combat the lack of daylight is to go tanning. There have been lots of articles written about the pros and cons of using tanning beds. That is something you will have to weigh for yourself. One thing that I have heard consistently, though, is that tanning in a tanning bed gets those feel good summertime chemicals going again. So, maybe it's worth a session or two. Just be careful, your skin may be awfully pale by now. Make sure to head the advice of the salespeople and don't over do it.

Volunteer

One last thing that I will mention is the benefit of volunteering. What a great way to give your self a little boost out of the post holiday doldrums and help needy people or animals at the same time.

Check out a few websites or check in with your local Chamber of Commerce. They may have some great recommendations for you. If you have special interests of hobbies, I'll bet you can put them to great use and help others.

For example, if you love to crochet, why not make a few baby blankets and donate them to the local children's hospital. If you are good with animals, check into wildlife centers. There are so many people who need our help. Giving that help my just rebound and help you too.

I love horses, so I donated some of my time to a program which helped handicapped kids ride horses. What a joy it was to be able to help those kids and see the difference something like this could make for them. If loved being around the horses, so it was a win-win situation.

Keep Up the Good Work

I hope this has given you a few ideas and some motivation. You don't have to just wade through the post holiday blues. You can embrace this time of year and give it a kick in the butt, so to speak! You may find that making a small effort will come back to you many times over. Keep up the good work and enjoy this time of year.