How to Deal With the Post-Holiday Blues

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There are two types of people in the world: those who welcome the uneventful stretch after Christmas-Kwanzaa-Hanukkah-New Year's like a well-deserved spa vacation and those who deeply miss all the bustle and revelry and lapse into a post-holiday depression. Here are some ways to cope with your post-December angst.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

CD
DVD
Stationery
Television

Step1

Go shopping. No matter how much you miss the holiday season, retailers miss it even more, which is why they’ve slashed their prices in half or two thirds to attract Christmas weary shoppers back into the mall. If you haven’t maxed out your credit card buying presents for friends and family, now is a good time to buy a little something for yourself at a good price.

Step2

Write thank you notes. There’s no reason a thank you note has to be limited to a brief “Thanks for the sheepskin jacket! It goes really well with the rest of my wardrobe! Love, Sarah.” January and February is a great time to rediscover the art of real (not e-mail) letter writing. You’ll enjoy pouring your feelings onto paper and your friends will enjoy receiving some real mail for a change.

Step3

Immerse yourself in music and movies. Odds are you received a few CDs or DVD box sets a couple of weeks ago. Play your music loud or get under the blankets for the day and treat yourself to the entire first season of “The Sopranos.” In these bleak winter months, anything that kills vast stretches of time while making you feel good is worth trying.

Step4

Exercise. Once you’re done with your letter writing, CD listening, TV watching marathon, don’t forget to go out for a little fresh air, whether it’s a brisk walk around the block or a trip to the gym. Studies have shown that there’s nothing like exercise to improve your mood and odds are you ate a little too much over the holidays anyway.

Step5

Have some perspective. Remember, lots of people feel the same way you do. Your post-holiday malaise places you in a significant percentage of the population, so you have plenty of company. If you know other people who feel down, consider getting together at a restaurant or bar to cheer one another up and blow off some steam.