Post Holiday Blues
One of the biggest mistakes we make Post holiday Blues period is to have expectations. We expect exciting gifts, that it will be a peaceful and perfect time and that we’ll get to make more than enough memories with the people we love, but sometimes things just don’t work out the way we plan or hope for. Disappointments are not always bad if we learn to look at them from a different perspective.
Holiday Blues take it slow.
No doubt disappointments can leave you feeling heavy, disheartened and just generally stressed out especially if you have dissatisfaction over something that you’ve really set your heart on. But is it worth lingering on all the things that didn’t go your way? I don’t think so, and I’ll tell you why.
Less time for the blues
Stress can get you down. In this case, its self-inflicted stress. Lingering too long on the things that make you sad could lead to sorrow. Grieve could eventually lead to depression. Leaving you with not such a great start to the year. Concentrating on all the “wrong” things, leaves no room for the small miracles, little blessings and amazing experiences. That you may have already been through. It’s because we think so long and hard about what we didn’t get.
Holiday it would be so nice if only the Blues will go away.
Just for a second, think about your Christmas list. Perhaps you had your heart set on something really special, but instead, you got your second choice. Maybe you wanted a new IPod, but you got an IPhone instead? Maybe you wanted some toys; makeup, clothes, a new bedroom makeover and you didn’t get it? Whatever the case, the festive season is not about the material things in life, it’s about family and friendships and building strong and long lasting relationships. It’s about giving. But not always the giving of gifts. Sometimes giving means time, experience, skills, understanding and…of course, sharing.
Post Holiday Blues take slow one day at a time
You put your heart and soul into a gift for others and they are not happy with it you can get discourage. Think of how your family and friends might feel. This time if they see that you’re not quite happy with the way things have gone. Try to be grateful and show your gratitude and you might be surprised that the feeling actually catches on – before you know it you’ll not only be pretending to be grateful, you’ll BE grateful. Try listen to musics …Ok, so the blues have set in, despite trying to keep happy. That’s ok, being sad is totally normal. Start by:
Holiday Blues take slow one day at a time
- Concentrating on the things that made you happy over the season.
Even if it means you have to dig a little to find reasons to smile, make a list of all the things that made your day during the festive season and then think of those instead. We don’t always have control over what happens, but we do have control over what we choose to hold dear and act on.
Holiday blues take slow ones.
- Give, even if you didn’t get
I’m not so sure about the “you’ll always have if you give saying” but I do know that giving makes people happy. Happiness is infectious. If you’ve got no other reason to smile then make someone else smile – you might be surprised at how amazing it feels. And you know you don’t have to give an iPhone to make someone’s day.
It’s the Holiday blues
- Just be you
Ok, so you’re not the kind of person to smile when you’re unhappy. Or to laugh when you’re sad – it’s called not being pretentious, I get it. You’re perfectly entitled to your own way of doing things, but I know there is a sparkle of a smile in there somewhere, do what makes you happy in order to find it and then the minute you find it, hold onto your joy. So, after all is said and done, I really just want to leave you with two final thoughts. Don’t concentrate on the material things during the season.
Post Holiday Blues take it slow one day at a time
Make it a fun day
So many of the things you get this year will be forgotten by next year live a little. Memories are made out of the experiences we have and not the things. Maybe you should be the one to make something awesome. This time for yourself, family, and friends, or even a random stranger.
That reminds me of a YouTube video I saw recently of a couple of guys gifting some necessities to a homeless man who was sleeping on a park bench. They gathered some blankets, warm clothing, a few packets of food, a warm cup of coffee, and a decorated Christmas tree. They wrapped the gifts and put it under the tree next to the bench and walked away. When the homeless man woke up, his joy was uncontainable. It reminded me that when we give gifts over Christmas, it’s to make people’s lives better, not just to give “stuff”.
Not your Holiday!
We can always get more things. But if we don’t take the time to build the important aspects of life. Like relationships, things just become empty. Whom will we share it with? When you count your blessings It’s not about trying to convince yourself. That you’re lucky when you’re not. It’s about opening your eyes to the smaller things. That have huge meaning in your life. That you may have previously overlooked.
Hi Patrice,
Expectations gets me every time. This Christmas was the best Christmas I ever had.
Because we had all our children over for cookies and fun and games.
There’s no gift that can beat that.
Great post!
Vernon, Welcome, Glad you had a great Christmas. Time spend with family is great passed time. Expectations always leave me feeling disappointed so I had to stop.
I love your positive message. My parents always taught me that it’s the thought that counts when I receive a gift 🙂
I can totally relate to this post. Even in the midst of revelry, food, and happy, smiling people, we can’t help but feel a little anxiety. I guess I just miss my childhood days when my family was still complete. However, I am still thankful for all the blessings I have received and I try my best to share them with others in need.
Annemarie LeBlanc, I agree with you miss those childhood days but can’t let it get me down. Think positive my motto.
These are great tips. Christmas is about giving and sharing. My siblings and I have been taught by our parents to appreciate even the little things and that’s what I have been teaching my kids.
ourfamilyworld, Talk about passing down from generation to generation Giving & sharing your Parents taught you well!
We must give without expecting anything from the person we give, rather our gratitude for having something to give shall attract that reward we least expect!
People get Holiday blues because we have so much fun we don’t want it to end. The best way to not get them blues is to live your life like it’s a holiday every day 🙂
Julie Syl Kalungi Welcome, Respect your opinion “live your life like it’s a holiday every day” But for Teens who are suffering with depression may not be the right choice. You are correct gratitude and giving…It’s the little things that counts for me.
Yes, I do it every year but this year is somewhat better I have been just relaxing and working on the blog so it helps awesome tips thanks
I love the idea to give even if you didn’t get.
sometimes it is so hard to enjoy the holidays but we owe it to ourselves to do just that , let go of all the pain physical or emotional and wrap self in love of the season and enjoy
It’s better to not expect anything so you won’t get disappointed. And it’s always better to give, so just keep on giving! Thanks for this lovely reminder.
Such an inspiring message. I love giving, but dint always have the means. I just need to focus on different ways to give, such as spending time with someone.
So many people are focused on the gifts and that is so not what the holiday is about. Love all your tips.
I don’t think I get the holiday blues. I do however get winter blues. When I do, I try to think positive and I do something nice for myself like taking the time to watch a movie or read a book.
Every year I go way overboard at Christmas. This year, I did not. And it felt great! There were a couple of people dissapointed but that’s okay, in the long run things are way more important than expensive gifts. And I hope those couple who expected big things even though I forewarned things were dif. this year due to things I’m not controlling, will come to realize that too. 🙂
Rosey, I understand this year I did not go overboard either.
Managing expectations helps keep me sane during the holidays!
I used to get the post holiday blues pretty bad; there is so much build up and then it’s over. I’m getting way better at controlling those emotions:-)
These are some really good points. I caught a cold this past weekend but I won’t let it get me down!
The holidays are stressful without the added expectations. I remember being disappointed twice around Christmas because I had such unrealistic expectations. LOL The best way to go about it is to simply be grateful and get your own gifts
Marielle Altenor, I like this better get my own gift, lol be thankful it’s the thought thats count.
Holiday Blues are definitely a real thing that people go through. This is a great post with some really great suggestions.
Shannon Gurney, Blues can appear after New Year. Leaving one in deep depression. Knowing that it exists is the first step to helping others.
I love reading your posts! I completely agree that so many have high expectations and I feel Christmas and the Holiday season should be about fond family memories. Happy New Year!
This is very wonderful and helpful post, this could help for those having holiday blues.
I’ve never heard the Holiday Blues, but it was interesting because I had one friend who has been in this situation, I’m sure this could help her. Thank you.
Nicole Escat , Post Holiday Blues or holiday blues, post vacation blues is when someone get so sad and depressed after all excitement from or spending from their vacation from normal routine.
This Christmas has been rough because we gave up our home to take care of a relative and it’s not going well. Our new home is taking forever because it’s in short sell. I just want to be free!
Oh no Crystal, Disappointment is for a reason sometime it’s out of our control the universe way of slowing us down.
I think expectations are the big one in our family. I think we did a better job this year yet we were still disappointed. Communication and boundaries is key. That first photo was absolutely stunning and so creative!
Jonathan Key, Expectations & disappointments can cause us to going into a depression if we are not careful. It’s the taught that count. There are people who seem to forget what the holiday symbolizes…. that real meaning is not about outdoing each other with gifts. This leave them be more disillusion.
This is a timely and important blog post I think.
Setting goals I think is also important – it gets you looking to the future and dwelling on the negative events of the past, as you mention in your article.
Great post – I will have the post holiday blues next week – especially as my youngest starts school 🙁 Kaz
Such a great message!!!! I’m all about staying positive and focusing on the good!
I don’t really care what I receive. I can buy what I want anyway, lol. I love to spend my time giving to people. I don’t really get down during the holidays, but I know many people who do.
Great advice. I can relate to feeling disappointed when someone obviously isn’t thrilled about their gift, despite my efforts. As I get older I try to just relax about everything and enjoy the season. I know I have a tendency to get the holiday blues, so I try to get stressful tasks and shopping done in November so I don’t fall into the yearly trap of stress and blues that follow.
It’s unfortunate that “the greatest season of the year” is so stressful and disappointing to many. Excellent advice on managing the stress.
Thanks so much for sharing with The Blogger’s Pit Stop!
– Marie, Blogger’s Pit crew
Just Plain Marie, Welcome, I am learning to leave the stress behind everyday the Blues is not invited ..Thanks for your support.