by Tracey Deaux
Child Life Specialist

The gifts have all been opened.  The toys have all been used.  The food has all been eaten.  And the kids are finally all nestled in their beds for a nice winter nap.  It’s the day after Christmas and although there are so many toys to be enjoyed, Christmas has seemed to end just as soon as it began.  All the stress that comes with buying gifts, receiving gifts, meeting work deadlines, decorating, and going to Christmas party after Christmas is suddenly over.  The build up to Christmas has come to a halt.  Now what?

Things will quickly go back to normal and you will become engulfed once again in work, kids, family, and friends.  And of course, the Christmas decorations must come down all too soon.  The Christmas blues have kicked in.  How can you manage your stress enough to enjoy the days after Christmas?

Feelings that may have been hidden or ignored this past year suddenly seem to appear during and after the holidays.   These feelings of hope, love, anxiety, stress, and even depression are very real and should not be overlooked.  Some great ways to manage these feelings that come with your Christmas blues can be as simple as enjoying a classic, embarrassing home video with your family or playing a nice game of football in the backyard.  Try and control only the things you can control like your health, your attitude, and your reactions to the things you cannot control.  Try not to sweat the things you cannot control such as your work, your in-laws, and your kids forced to stay home another week from school.  And try to enjoy the company of your family, savoring the moments you are together. 

Christmas comes and goes, but one thing remains and that is family.  Enjoy being with your family, even after the holiday excitement.  Enjoy the small exciting details of life—the brisk, cold weather (maybe even snow), the hug someone gave you, the smile from your child that warms your heart.  These are the things that matter in life…even if they come after Christmas.