Hello sweet friends! How are you? Are you recovering from the craziness of the holiday season?
I don’t know about you, but I find myself feeling all out of sorts in the days following Christmas. On the one hand, my family does infinitely better when we are operating within a routine.
So getting back to our regularly scheduled programming is more than welcomed around here. But on the other hand, my emotions tend to be all over the place and I feel discombobulated (that’s one of my all-time favorite words by the way!).
And, in years past, I would give those emotions too much merit. I used to analyze them and wonder if I was supposed to make big changes in my life or big changes to my home or big changes to my hair.
I would simmer and stew over those post-holiday emotions and allow them to form a cloud over the brand new year.
But somewhere along the line, I began to recognize them for what they are.
Just the normal response to coming back down to reality after a month of crazy schedules, hyped up kids, too much sugar and a ridiculous number of activities.
Are you struggling with the post-Christmas ‘blahs’?
May I recommend that you don’t put too much stock in those feelings?
How about instead of giving into them, we just do simple things to boost our spirits?
Keep a few twinkling lights glowing here and there.
Light a candle in your favorite scent.
Put on some music that always makes you smile.
Read a good book.
Take a bath.
Go on a walk.
Have lunch with a friend.
Spend time in prayer and in God’s word.
And just celebrate moving out of a season of excess and into a season of simplicity.
Happy New Year!
Find more encouragement and inspiration in our book ‘Life in Season’ in stores now!
Thoughtful post. Thanks for sharing! In this bitterly cold first week of January, I give thanks for my warm, cozy home and my snuggly dog and will settle in with my new books I received for Christmas. You are right, don’t overthink the post holiday blues…..as we know, this too, shall pass. And I too, have one small tree twinkling day and night!
I like what you have written. I still have my tree up and I turn it on every morning because I love the little lights. Hugs,
What a lovely post. I really enjoy a cup of white tea in the afternoon, but my stress level is higher this year. My husband broke a small bone in his leg a week before Christmas all our Christmas travelling cancelled , I guess we will be having Xmas in July delivering late presents. Then I was sick had to stay in bed New Years weekend ( 4days) I planned to take Xmas decoration down and put away. But will do what only what I can till done and still enjoy my cup of tea but my homemade baking container are empty. ☕️
Vanessa- Timely post! Great suggestions! What I remind myself is resolutions, DIY lists and enjoying the snow this time of year in Denver. And life moves so quickly. PS I love love love your small Christmas trees!
laura
Yes! Discombobulated says it all, doesn’t it? God goes before us into every New Year and He is never surprised by the things that take our breath away. I pray for a year of soulful rest for all of us – no matter how bone weary our bodies may be! Happy New Year to you and your!
Amen sister, thanks for the wonderful perspective! Blessings
While I appreciate your post, I must say there are no blahs here. I am excited about the new year, more than willing to take down and store the Christmas décor and get on with normal. As I age I am finding that the hysteria over the holidays is wearing and I am pleased when it is over. I hope I don’t sound unfeeling but I wanted to share an alternate mind set.
You don’t sound unfeeling at all Sami and I appreciate your perspective! 🙂
Thanks Vanessa for the good insight. I sometimes feel that way right after the holidays and I forget that there are good things waiting for me in the new year to come.
Thank you for those good tips to start the new year.
Happy New Year to you and your family!!
Happy New Year to you, too, Vanessa! I always enjoy your posts!
Glad to know that I am not the only person who gets a little down after Christmas — and especially when you pack away your Christmas decorations and everything seems to look so drab after having so much color! I love Christmas and everything that is connected to it! It is absolutely my favorite time of the year!
However, it isn’t long before I count my blessings and realize that I am truly blessed! God is so good!
Bless you!
Thank you so much Mary-Ann and Happy New Year to you as well!
I know this feeling as well. Luckily, my kids have January and February birthdays, so quickly after the Christmas festivities are over, we begin planning birthdays. It’s nice to pair-down after Christmas and plan low-key birthday celebrations. And, due to their birthdays being right after Christmas, we ask that their birthday party guests bring donations for the local animal shelter, in lieu of gifts.
~Jenny
http://www.introvertsguidetosobriety.com/
That is such a great idea Jenny!
I just read this post… thank you so much !! Great Words of Wisdom… and some wonderful ideas…. Our family had an amazing Christmas … and just this past week we had a cabin vacation getaway in the Smokies… so beautiful… It snowed!! … and snowed !!! lolol… kind of a big deal for us “Floridians”!!! lol….. but then when everyone heads back home and to “Normal” … well… I feel those same blahs just a bit !!!! Thank you again for this uplifting post !!!!