7 Essential Tips for Dealing with Post Holiday Blues for Parents

Feeling overwhelmed now that the holiday season has come to an end? Many parents feel this way! The season from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day can be busy, fun, and festive.

However, once all the gift giving stops, social gatherings end, and everyone is back to work and school, feelings of sadness and loneliness can creep in.

Read on to figure out beneficial ways to take care of your mental health this season, including tips for self care and family activities to help you overcome the post holiday slump. Use this time to recharge and find balance in your family's life, planning things to look forward to in the year ahead!

What Are The Post-Holiday Blues, Anyway?

Post-holiday blues in families

The post holiday blues usually refers to feeling sad, tired, low energy, and unmotivated after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over. This can feel like a combination of emotional, physical, and even financial stress.

The holiday break can be a stressful time for parents, filled with endless activities and commitments for their kids. Once that time is over, it's common for parents to feel sad and even depressed. Empty schedules can lead to boredom and isolation.

The post holiday blues are a common phenomenon that can affect anyone, but it is pretty common for parents especially to feel the weight of these feelings after the holidays are over.

Who gets post-holiday blues?

The post-holiday blues can hit anyone. Working people, parents and caregivers, and children can start to feel depressed after the fun and magic of the holidays come to an end.

Parents in particular may experience post-holiday blues due to the added stress and pressure of the holiday season.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms

Many parents report feeling sad, empty, or lonely after the holidays. They might even find themselves thinking about problems or events that happened over the holiday season.

Parents might feel stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, and having difficulty regulating emotions. This can lead to physical symptoms such as fatigue, changes in appetite or sleep patterns. The post holiday blues are a real phenomenon!

Is it normal to feel depressed after the holidays?

Feeling a little down or off after the holidays is a lot more common than people think, and it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you if you do feel the post holiday blues.

Coming down from the “high” of the holiday season can be difficult, and that’s completely normal. However, if feelings persist or worsen, it may be a sign of a more serious mental health condition, such as clinical depression. It is important for parents to reach out to mental health resources if they are feeling low. Seasonal depression is a disorder that is also common during this time of year.

If your depression begins to impact your ability to go about your daily life, it's time to reach out to a mental health professional who can connect you with the right resources to help you get through the winter months.

Managing Post-Holiday Blues

Give yourself time to adjust

Know that it is okay to feel sad or overwhelmed after the holidays are over. Most of the time, these are short term feelings, and once you're back to your typical daily routine, your mood might change.

Acknowledge your emotions and remind yourself that it’s normal to feel this way. Take a moment to name your emotions and recognize that they’re valid. Treasure the special moments that your family experienced over the holidays.

Give yourself time to adjust to the post-holiday routine and allow yourself to feel your emotions. The holidays often lead to busy, jam-packed schedules, and having a more relaxed season of life can actually help your family's overall well being.

Connect with others

Leaning on your close friends and family can help you continue to feel connected and not alone. The holidays bring people together, and it is important to continue to spend time with friends as we start off the new year.

Close connections can also be useful in helping you navigate what you are going through, especially if you deal with clinical depression or seasonal depression. Reach out to a mental health professional if you need someone to talk to as you deal with feelings of stress and sadness.

Prioritizing Mental Health

Take care of your physical health

• Engage in regular physical activity to boost your mood and energy levels.

• Eat a balanced and nutritious diet to support your mental health.

• Get enough sleep each night to help regulate your emotions.

• Avoid alcohol and drugs, which can exacerbate negative emotions.

Practice self-compassion and mindfulness

• Practice gratitude for all the little things in your life.

• Focus on the present moment and let go of unrealistic expectations.

• Engage in activities that bring you joy and help you relax.

• Prioritize self-care and make time for activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul.

Coping Strategies for the Holiday Season

Plan something to look forward to

• Create new moments to anticipate by planning a weekend outing, a day trip, or a small project you’ve been wanting to try.

• Having something to look forward to can help you feel more positive and focused.

• Plan ahead and schedule activities that bring you joy and help you feel connected.

Get moving to feel better

• Exercise is a great way to boost your mood and energy levels.

• Start by taking a walk outside, doing some light yoga, or even having a dance break to your favorite song.

• Choose something you enjoy so it doesn’t feel like a chore.

Supporting Your Family’s Mental Health

How to promote mental health during the holiday season

How can parents prioritize happiness during this season of life? Practice healthy habits, like regular exercise and balanced eating. You would be amazed how much of an impact your diet and activity level has on your mental wellbeing!

Prioritize self-care and make time for activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul. Pick up a new book, join a local moms group, attend church, go on a hike, take a bath, get your hair done, or call a friend. All of these are known to boost mood!

Create a safe, supportive environment for open communication with your family and friends. When you're feeling down, it's easy to isolate. Try not to handle everything on your own.

Seek professional help if you or a family member is struggling with mental health. Feeling sad when the holiday season is over is normal, but when the "holiday blues" seems to persist or interrupt your ability to go about your daily life, a mental health professional will be able to give more help. Depression and seasonal affective disorder are common during the winter months and should not be ignored.

Helping your children cope with post-holiday blues

Are your kids sad that Santa isn't delivering more presents? Did they get upset when you put away the holiday decorations? Children can definitely experience post-holiday blues, though it might look different from the way adults experience it.

Kids often have big emotions around the holidays, especially if they’ve been looking forward to gifts, family gatherings, or special activities. It can feel like a big bummer when the holiday experience is done.

For younger children, these feelings might show up as clinginess, irritability, or difficulty focusing. Teens might seem withdrawn or moody as they process the transition. It's normal for kids to feel disappointed, especially because they were probably used to such a busy time of life during the holidays.

Give your children something to look forward to after the holidays! It might be easier for your kids to go to bed earlier, have better sleep, and prioritize rest. You can also plan ways to relieve stress as a family by making a point to engage in daily exercise, try out a new recipe for weeknight dinner, or spend time going on an evening walk around the neighborhood.

Think about things to look forward to

If your children are feeling sadness or a lack of motivation, try giving them things to look forward to. The winter season includes several holidays, like Valentine's Day! Do holiday themed crafts together, bake treats together, and talk about how they will celebrate with their friends at school.

Create goals for the new year. You can make a family vision board, grab a new wall calendar, or create a schedule of things you want to work on as a family for the rest of the year.

The post holiday blues are normal, but you can make it through by following these simple tips.

The post holiday time can feel like a relief from such a busy time, but can also bring feelings of sadness. If you feel an overwhelming sense of depression, it's time to reach out to a mental health professional for support. Experiencing some sadness is normal, so try to find time to prioritize sleep, physical activity, and self care during this season of life!