Boxing Day Blues can sometimes strike when all the awaited festivities are over.
And they do seem to be over so quickly. All the hustle and bustle of preparing for the BIG day gives way to feelings of let down and down right depression. Knowing this before hand might just help you to get through those feelings and come out the other side with a new sense of wellbeing and a new purpose too.
Christmas time and all the build up to this holiday can make some people really "crazy". There are all the lists for food, drink, presents, guests and so much more to attend to. Then there is the cleaning and other preparations for the BIG day.
By the time it arrives you are physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. And just when you think it's perfect, it's over in a heartbeat.
The let down can be so significant, that many
mental health agencies start to prepare for the fall out early as well. But it doesn't have to be this way if you do just a little more preparation for this amazing holiday gathering.
Having a plan in mind to help you cope with the let down will significantly make the holidays much happier. To that end, I am going to make some suggestions that just might help you, or someone you love, get through that post holiday let down.
Today, on the Calendar of Days, is Write a
Thank You Note day. Now, you may not think this is a good idea, but I'm here to suggest it's a great way to relive the excitement, joy, and happiness of the Christmas gathering. It will help you to capture what was really important and let go of the myriad of small disappointments that may have happened to make the day less than perfect.
After all, getting the family together and enjoying each other's company is the real beauty of Christmas. The gifts and the food and everything else is secondary to just being together.
Sitting down and writing a thank you, will let you put into words how much you enjoyed and appreciated all the efforts everyone made to make this Christmas special. It really acts as a way to relive the excitement and the funny things that happened during the previous day.
If that doesn't work for you there are many other ways to get through that post holiday letdown. Here is my list of ways to do that and maybe you can add some of your own ideas.
- Write that Thank You note to someone who went out of their way to make the holiday special.
- Plan a trip to the zoo. Christmas antics aren't just for people.
- Arrange some time to go for a walk in the neighborhood to enjoy the lights, decorations and all the sights.
- Let yourself relax with a good movie or go out to a show.
- Invite someone you haven't seen in a while for coffee and a good chat.
- Go out and play in the snow (if you have any). Bundle up with those new scarves, hats and mitts.
- Start a new hobby. Scrapbooking, knitting, crocheting, drawing or woodworking. Coloring pages are still a great way to relax too.
- add your own ideas here.......
All the expectations, disappointments and let downs seem to disappear when you have a plan in mind. Just writing a note can help you get through that emotional build up of the past month. Going out to park, zoo, or being with a good friend, can give you a release for all the frustrations you may have felt or are still feeling. It's hard to stay disappointed when you are at the zoo checking out all the Christmas treats the zookeepers have in store for the animals in their care. Just watching the Polar Bears, penguins, monkeys and more, get their treats can be a delight for your overworked body and spirit. The walking and exercise are good for you too. Too much food and drink can be the trigger to make some people feel cranky and "out of sorts". Drinking water and walking can help undo all the overeating and indulgences that took place the day before. If you can't do the exercise, then just sitting back and watching a favorite movie, with full permission to just enjoy it, can also revive the drooping spirits. A new hobby will keep your mind and hands occupied while you try to figure out just what you are supposed to do. An active mind doesn't have time to dwell on things that didn't go as planned and that's a good thing.
If this all fails, then you can always go to the internet and start planning something different, a vacation in the new year, places you want to see or books you want to read. On Review This Reviews, you can find lots of
book reviews,
Do It Yourself projects,
movie reviews and more. I dare say you could spend the better part of a day just checking out all the articles and I'm sure you will find a few that will trigger some ideas of your own.
The most important thing on December 26th is to relish and relive, enjoy and form the memories of the day before. Writing that note may be the first step in some well deserved "self-care" that will keep you from drowning in some very powerful negatives that could be plaguing your spirits. Don't let Christmas let-down, get you down.......there are plenty more good times coming your way.
**Olivia is not a health care specialist, if you are feeling down or depressed, please check out your local health professionals.
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