5 Ways to Break the Post Christmas Blues…
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Written by Jimmie Burroughs – Email this article to a friend
“Try to become not a man of success, but try rather to become a man of value.”
—Albert Einstein
About this time each year, people begin to put a lot of hope into the coming Christmas season, thinking it will bring the joy that is missing in life. When Christmas does arrive and fails to meet expectations, the post Christmas blues become somewhat common. The sadist part is that shortly after Christmas is when the suicide rate goes up.
So what is the best way to break the post Christmas blues? Before you begin thinking, well I do not need to be concerned about that, just think back because if you are like most of us, you have experienced at least some disappointment at Christmas time. The build up toward Christmas is far larger than the day can deliver. Anticipation of Christmas gets earlier and earlier with a greater commercial emphasis. Christmas lights were up this year before Thanksgiving and the pre-Christmas sales in force. Then there is all the Christmas music, the hustle and bustle, shopping for presents and the plans for a large family gathering, with lots of prepared food, all of which adds a lot of stress.
Usually by the time Christmas does arrive, we are ready for things to get back to normal. Probably though, the biggest mistake is expecting too much from one day on the calendar. The truth of the matter is if we are not content with the 364 other days on the calendar, we are not likely to experience any change on the 365th day either, counting Christmas as day 365.
I do not mean to take away from the significance of what Christmas stands for and the birth of the savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, but that is no longer the central thrust of Christmas anyhow. Today it seems that the emphasis has turned to drinking, parties and spending a lot more money and running up the credit cards.
Try these five simple ways to break the post Christmas blues:
Lower expectations and increase your benevolent involvement:
Lower your expectations of what Christmas will do for you and raise your involvement in what you can do for the less fortunate. There are many ways to do this. If you are part of a church, they will give you opportunities to help the needy at Christmas. If you aren’t connected with the church, the civic organizations in your city are also involved in helping others. The Salvation Army always has its kettles at the local merchants.
Be involved in the get together of friends:
The get together at Christmas time can be a lot of fun, but I would also caution you about the wild parties where there is a lot of drinking because that can add to your distress following Christmas. Most of the ones I have attended in the past have been the Bible study group I am part of, and they have added a lot of joy and fun to the season. Just planning a gathering of your close friends or perhaps people from work in your home is also a great idea. When you do join a get together, be sure to laugh a lot and add to the enjoyment.
Plan a reasonable spending budget:
Unless you are like the royal family of Dubai, who took over three million dollars to Great Brittan with them to pay expenses and buy gifts, you will need to plan well. The best rule of thumb is to pay cash for Christmas and avoid running up your credit cards. Maxed out credit cards can make the New Year not so happy when it’s time to pay it all back. Keep this in mind, one of the most depressing features of Christmas is charging too much on credit cards and winding up in a state of depressing because of it.
Continue to take care of yourself:
Too much partying, too much drinking and too much eating are all good ways to create yourself a good case of post Christmas blues. In conjunction with this is letting go of exercise and not getting enough rest and sleep. Traffic fatalities also increase around the holidays as more people drink and drive. While there is nothing we can do personally about that, other than not being one of those who drink and drive, we can plan our trips to avoid the late evening rush that includes many drunks. We can also continue an exercise program, get our rest, enough sleep and eat within reason.
Plan to make every day a special day:
While special days like Thanksgiving and Christmas are very significant, they are in reality just another day. Every day is a gift from God and should be special, but before it can be special, we must have the right attitude about it. As I write this, I am well aware of the challenges that life brings, sometimes trouble at home, on the job or health issues. There is still much for which to be thankful. If you are able to have a roof over your head, food on the table, clothes to wear, and a car to drive, you are among the top 10% of privileged people who live on this planet. In addition, if you have good health, you should leap with joy because it is one of the greatest blessings of all.
The reason for many of the blues we experience after Christmas is a failure to be grateful for all God has done for us and continues to do every day. It is a matter of fact that almost anyone has enough concerns to give them the blues if they permit it to happen. However, similarly, almost anyone has enough for which to be thankful.
Conclusion:
So this Christmas season, plan to continue right through the season being grateful and glad for the good things that you have in your life and do not let the negative pull you down. Enjoy the fun and laughs with friends and family. Give up any expectation that Christmas day, as a special day, will change anything. Instead, make it your priority to bring about your own changes just one day at a time each day throughout the year.
Learn how to have a relationship with God who is the author of every day and discover the difference it can make in every day of your life as he brings about a brand new way of living that includes a peace and joy that no special day can ever bring.
About the author: Jimmie Burroughs is a motivational speaker and author who’s been involved in teaching Christian Personal Development for more than 30 years. He is a dedicated believer in Jesus Christ and considers helping others his calling in life. His websites contains over 600 articles on preparing yourself for success and better living through personal development.
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