How to prevent post Christmas anticlimax?

[DrSausagedog]

I love Christmas, and for me the month or so before it is a wonderful time of anticipation, we do lots of Chrismas activities etc do it brightens up the cold, dark winter days too.

But...after New Year, I always feel on a bit of a downer that all the fun is over for another year, all the bright lights come down, there are minimal outings etc and the weather is at its worst.

So, any tips on how to make Jan and Feb less depressing and prevent the post Festive anticlimax please?

[Septembersunrays]

plan things for then too, make sure you have ££ to get into cosy log fire pubs...
take down your decs when you want...

[Septembersunrays]

its hard ,its my worst time of year

[SoMuchToBits]

I totally agree, such a hard time of year. You've had all the fun of Christmas, but the weather is cold, the days still long and dark, and nothing seems to happen.

I guess the best thing is to try to plan some social activities in advance - maybe ask friends round for dinner/drinks in January, so you have something to look forward to. Also, if you get any dry, bright (even if cold) days, then wrap up warm and go for a walk/bike ride, so at least you get some fresh air and exercise.

[Thumbcat]

I leave up a set of fairy lights somewhere in the house and don't take them down till around March when the first signs of spring appear.

[PesoPenguin]

I'm not sure you can tbh, Jan and Feb suck. My birthday is in Feb and I still hate it!

[M4blues]

We always try to book a break for feb half term. It gives us all something to look forward to. Otherwise I think feb would send me into depression.

[M4blues]

Yes, and this year we arranged to have friends come to stay on the last weekend in Jan. they came on the Fri night and stayed until Sunday afternoon. That was really nice.

[DrSausagedog]

Glad it's not only me who feels this way.

Good suggestions about being proactive and booking things in for Jan and Feb. It's nice to have things to look forward to, even simple things like staying in for drinks and board games with friends. Also I've seen a touring ballet coming to our town in February so may book tickets for that.

Thanks for the replies.

[franksidebottom]

I've learned from this time in the past that it's vital to have something to look forward to, this time of the year is so bleak. Book a holiday, short break, plan a night out. Don't start a diet in Jan I think your doomed to fail in this month, if finances allow a nice haircut/new makeup etc, treat yourself

[Septembersunrays]

I've learned from this time in the past that it's vital to have something to look forward to, at the word, Vital.

I wholeheartedly agree. I think its vital to have something to look forward too all the time but esp jan/feb. My main problem has been money to just leave house for lunch somewhere. being in cosy pub around people helps, so I ave started to have a specific, depressing jan and feb sunday pot.

also if you live near london, the musuems etc are great for tis time of year.

[Lilaclily]

that's why people go crazy booking holidays in January
what about booking a show in London?

[BiddyPop]

Do things ahead of time - so say you book your regular hairdresser appointment that you often skip in January, and put the money for it on a gift card as part of your Christmas spending.

Or book a treat of a facial/massage/manicure etc and put that on a gift card.

Arrange to meet up with some of the "must catch up" group(s) in January when resaurants etc are much quieter and you have a good chance to catch up properly (not shouting to be heard and dashing off as OHs have other events on or there is still a pile of wrapping to do or DTarquin's school play costume for tomorrow has to be made before bed).

Plan a healthy eating kick - but NICE eating, not a "half a lettuce leaf" diet kick. So lots of veggies, get in good seasonings when on special before Christmas, when making festive treats add a little extra and freeze the spares, etc. Do some reading on it over Christmas and plan to try a few new dishes.

Watch weather forecasts. Make sure you have your winter outdoor gear sorted. And take advantage of any chances there are to get out into the fresh air for brisk walks etc.

Buy a nice book that you want to read, or a craft project that you want to do. As something to enjoy in the evenings once DCs are gone to bed - and with a fire lit.

If you tend to buy Christmassy candles, especially smelly ones, get something nice and wintery but not Christmassy as well - to burn after the decorations come down. Candlelight always looks nice on winter nights I think.

[Savagebeauty]

I prefer January to the forced jollity of Christmas.
I plan galleries/ theatre/ lunches out... Don't over eat or spend loads so I've got spare cash to do it.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Plan your conceptions to correspond with post Christmas birthdays four of my dc are born in Jan/Feb.

[BiddyPop]

And yes, cheap days out, being a tourist in your own place, can be great fun normally and especially in the dullness of winter when the facilities tend to be quieter so you can enjoy them and the staff appreciate people coming especially locals!

[Pixi2]

You need a winter hobby, specifically for January, February and some of March. We do jigsaws on the dining table (often with a nice casserole). It helps to break the evenings up into distinct phases. Home, bath, DC put warm pyjamas on, jigsaw, dinner, homework, DVD (if they want), bedtime. Chess is being taught to the DC, lots of board games like frustration, operation, labyrinth. This year I might try to teach them draughts and Chinese chequers too. I agree with having friends round. Pre DC, DH and I used to have friends round a lot. There was lots of wine and whiskey, card games, scrabble games...
I also like sketching when the DC have put a DVD on.
I have a real fire and always keep the Christmas fire decorations up until the end of February. DC have fairy lights in their rooms too. I use candles all year round so would recommend them too. Could you knit or crochet a blanket? Challenge yourself to a difficult book? (My winter books are the Ilyiad and the odessy which have been on my book list since I was 17. I ended up re reading Emma instead every time).

[AuntieStella]

I suggest:

• don't start Christmas too early
  
• celebrate Christmas right through to Twelfth Night
  
• Google for obscure festivals or feast days in Jan/Feb and start an eccentric family celebration for one or two.
  
• see if you can get someone in the family a non-weather-dependent experience as a pressie, and book it for February
  
• try forcing bulbs. I always get the timings wrong for these, so my Christmas hyacinths flower mid-Jan anyhow and it's nice to have early growth and nice smells
  
• find somewhere to go for walks in crisp air and weak sunshine, coming back to hot chocolate. If it's a beach, so much the better.
  
• hope for one good (not too inconvenient) snow day

[HeadDreamer]

Google for obscure festivals or feast days in Jan/Feb and start an eccentric family celebration for one or two.

Chinese New Year is usually in February. We keep the lights in the house until after that. And we also put on Chinese New Year decorations. There is also a large amount of candies.

[conniedescending]

Don't obsess about it....it's September fgs!

[MTWTFSS]

Dirty Grandpa is out in cinema 22nd January :)

[Hypotenuse]

Book Disneyland for Feb half term? That's what I've done because I hate it when Christmas is over. I also hate it when our Disney holiday is over so I need advice for what to do in March when I'm on a Disney comedown...

[MrsJoyless]

You should sign my petition to get Christmas moved to February half term. I reckon this is a decent spacing after the New Year celebrations plus we can buy presents in the January sales.

[MrsJoyless]

Hmm, first reply with the new App.

[MinesAPintOfTea]

Get married in February and push the boat out for your anniversary.

Or if its too late for that, tone down christmas a bit and do more fun stuff into the new year.

[DrSausagedog]

Love the idea of booking a break away in Feb half term. We may look into London with a show.

We tend to put the tree up the first weekend of December, always have done, then take it down end of Dec as DD has her birthday then and we need the extra space for her party, as well as putting up non- Christmas themed decs for her.

Hypotenuse- is Feb ht a good time to visit DLP?

Once we get to March I'm fine, as I love Easter and start preparing for and getting excited about that too! Plus the weather usually starts to improve a bit then.