Post Christmas Blues

[Watchingpretzels]

Anyone else struggling with the post Christmas blues?!

We stayed with family over the Christmas period and have just got home today. I'm so sad it's all over! Feeling really low after having such a high.

On holiday for the next three weeks so Will be February blues

I know some people love the build up to Christmas but I find it can be too frenetic. Much prefer these calmer days afterwards with the lights still up and lovely things to do that don't involve buying stuff.

This is me too. I find the build-up stressful but I bloody love the week between Christmas and New Year - admittedly it's easy for me to love it as I never have to work that week 😄but it's not just the time off work, it's the general festive feel, hopefully a few decent things to watch on TV, the food, the decorations. Earlier today a friend described it as 'limbo' but that's exactly what I love about it, the suspension of normality for a few days. I'm usually able to press the pause button on some of the day-to-day stresses in my life over the festive season, which I welcome as I struggle with anxiety. The decorations also really help my SAD, so they'll be staying up for a while yet.

My DC are adults so less excitement in the build up , but we did more in December ( DH and I had a couple of days away , Christmas Market ) all my lists , we all went to the cinema , DD DH and I went to the theatre on the 17th .
DD and I went to Bluewater shopping .

Didn't have loads of decorations or a tree (cats) but I have LED candles in big glass vases which are a lovely glow .

I work in the week in between , less of a system shock when I have to go back .

I have some leave booked , going to see my Mum , going by bus so I can read rubbish on my Kindle .Then do some serious clearing out . I;ve got a couple of bags for the Charity Shop for this week .

I love Spring (but my favourite season is Autumn) I need to think about plants for the garden . I've got some Nastursium seeds from last years plants (that kept growing tlll the snow ) . We grow them for the Cabbage White Butterflies so this year , I'll be ready !

Years ago we went to PIL on the day after Boxing Day coming back on the 2nd and it felt like I'd missed a huge chunk of Christmas , taking the tree down was really sad that year .

My DC are all in their 20's-I looked forward to it for so long-having everyone under the same roof.

It was wonderful having everyone here and it was one of the nicest Christmas days I can remember.

Now they are starting to go back to their homes and Uni and I feel so terribly flat.

I just cried in Waitrose. Feeling very blue indeed.

Exactly this. Well put x

Not for me.

My head is back in the right space for new enthusiasm about working projects. Solstice has passed and the daylight hours are gradually lengthening. I can begin to look forward to the vernal equinox and the return of spring, then booking a summer trip away.

November is my flat month. I find January fine!

I’m massively struggling with my mental health. I wish Christmas didn’t even happen this year. Or New Years. I was just not in the mood and I stayed with family for the festivities which is probably the only thing that made me feel like there was any point to any of it. However, my younger sister made me feel awful for not helping cook the dinner when I had terrible back pain.

Sorry to hear that Bex84 W, being in pain is tiring and draining, your sister was not supportive . Mrs Mitford 3, my son is leaving tomorrow to go back to where he lives I'm dreading it. Some nice ideas here to help thanks

I’m so glad it’s over. Too much stress, too much of a build up. I hate that it starts in August!
Parts were good, and we did some nice things, but not worth the time and effort it all takes.

I’d happily skip it next year.

Not feeling down at all. Looking forward to getting back to normal, and I’m glad I’ve been working quite a bit over Christmas anyway so haven’t got the dread of going back to it.

I always worry about it being over before it's even begun so I made a point of starting early this year. This Christmas was such a special one. My DS started school in Sept so we got to see his first nativity. And the whole week of thick snow was the icing on the (Christmas) cake! We were towing him to & from school on his sledge and arriving home to twinkly lights.

I always put a good film on while taking down the decs and once they're down it's never as bad as I thought. Good time to declutter.

September to December just comes & goes, I found nothing was ruined by starting early. There are also Christmas podcasts released year round for a little check-in with the season of joy.

I hate Jan and Feb too, they just seem so grey and depressing. I love Christmas and really miss the lights and the feeling of celebration. I usually perk up around March and then look forward to warmer weather and holidays...and Halloween and Christmas rolling around again.

I am hanging in until 12th night, so not yet over for me. Although it has all been a bit of a battle due to my father suddenly dying before Christmas.

January and February can be such dismal months, so I like to keep the decorations up as long as possible. I also enjoy being aware of how the nights are already starting to draw out as a way of keeping some joy and brightness. I am not a massive fan of heat, so as long as we have a bit of light and some blue sky I am quite happy regardless of the temperature. I try to take the positives from where we are to avoid the blues feeling.

So blue! Had the best Xmas and back to work now and I hate it

i just want to be snuggled up with my daughter and partner by the tree watching Xmas movies.

I just try ease us in to help. For example tonight we are out for dinner, weekend my dad is down for the weekend so that is exciting for us all.

Sunday Me and my daughter have dinner at my friends’ and she can play with her son

we also watched a movie last night

Still indulging too! Next week will be back to it more but I find easing in really helps

It is hard hough. I love Xmas and I finally got to see my daughter in a nativity again after years of covid stopping it.

Count your blessings and make arrangements to look forward to

I get married this year which helps

xx

Me. I feel so sad this year! I’ve had such a magical time since mid November and planning it way before then. Having kids made it even more special. I’ve been back at work since last Friday, so feel the magic is away.

my tree is still up. Will take that down at the weekend. I feel so sad though. I can’t think why because it was really so special.

might still keep heart Xmas and watch Christmas movies on the 25th of each month lol

🙋🏻‍♀️ same here. I miss the overall feel of Christmas. The little tingly Christmas music on tv adverts, seeing trees in windows in the evening. It’s so much nicer doing evening dog walks when there are pretty lights to look at outside. January is rough but day at a time, I’m hibernating and reading lots 😂

@letsbekindplease You've just reminded me of 'reindeer days' - can't remember where it came from but it was basically a Christmas 'plan' that involved doing something Christmas-related on the 25th of every month, some fun, some planning ahead. I think I tried it once and got as far as March!

I'm off work tomorrow and plan to take down decorations etc and clean the house. But I'm actually looking forward to a full day alone in peace (And the last piece of Christmas cake!)

Rudolph days, not reindeer days!

www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/3148606-Rudolph-Days-what-do-you-do

That's a nice idea

I would really like to see a return to the 12 days of Christmas. When I was a child Christmas did not end until 6 January. It obviously does have to end. But when people have been planning it for so long, an abrupt end on Boxing Day feels a bit of a shock.

Same here! The bit between Christmas and New Year is my favourite, when there's time to chill after all the hectic preps. I'm lucky to be able to take that time off work every year when not everyone can, but I'd still leave my decs up till Twelfth Night (and possibly beyond 😄) even if I was working that week.

Me three! I make sure to take time off work as well to just stay home, watch movies, do smartshow 3d slideshows of pictures taken during the celebration and chill in the middle of all the decorations. These are probably the most unproductive days possible and that's why I love them so much 😂