The Post-Holiday Blahs
Written by Alicia Lamar, M.Ed.
Psychotherapist
The radio is no longer blasting holiday music round the clock, the stores have swept up the tinsel, and a few lonely strands of lights on a neighbor’s roof remind us that ‘tis no longer the season to be merry and bright. We spend the fall rushing about, preparing to feast and have fellowship, and the winter decorating, gifting, and ushering in a New Year. And then what? Often, the weeks following the furious efforts of the holidays can seem unnervingly quiet and for some, a challenging time. Post-holiday blahs are very real. The holidays can be draining emotionally and financially. Cultural disconnection, social expectations, and obligations can become the primary experience of the holiday season. Picture-perfect scenes of holiday bliss can be preempted by family drama, economic challenges, and stress.
Give yourself the post-holiday gift of grace.
Sometimes after expending a lot of emotional energy, it can feel hard to find balance.
Acknowledge that the holidays can be stressful and give yourself permission to notice what you are feeling. Feelings can be powerful, be patient with yourself and experience the feeling without judgment. Remind yourself that there aren’t good or bad feelings. All feelings are part of the human experience.
Re-charge your batteries.
As you begin to adjust post-holiday, take a few minutes every day to luxuriate in gratitude. Think of exploring gratitude as a way to recharge your batteries. Notice something in your day that you feel grateful for it can be something simple like a warm cup of tea, the color of the sky, or your favorite person. Noticing the positive things and acknowledging them can increase awareness and engagement in things, people, and places that are meaningful. As you increase your gratitude, recharge your batteries, and connect with things that are meaningful, you begin to regain balance. By investing in yourself and building the practice of gratitude, the post-holiday season can become a time to reset, refresh, and recharge.
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