It’s that time of the year again. After months of anticipation and cheer, Christmas is over and a new year has just begun. Stockings sag from the fireplace, already emptied of the goodies they were once filled with, Christmas lights around the neighborhood slowly come down descending back into the normal darkness, and Christmas trees slowly lose their pines as ornaments start to droop down off the branches. Only crumbs of Christmas cookies are left, family has gone back to their own homes, and winter breaks are either coming to a close or coming close to it.

So how do we describe these feelings of sadness, nostalgia, and melancholy?

To many it’s known as the “after holiday blues” and there’s actually been studies conducted as to why we feel this way after the holidays.

According to Psychology Today, some of the reasons we become ‘depressed’ after the holidays are as follows: we go from having busy social schedules to becoming homebodies, family members start to travel back to their own homes, it’s time to go back to work, we are reminded of those who are no longer with us to spend the holidays, we are let down as the holidays were not what we expected and more.

(To read more, go to https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/life-without-...)

There’s so much going on around the holidays, starting all the way back in November with prepping for Thanksgiving and Christmas, that it’s hard to adjust back to the norm that was before the iconic holiday season.

After more research into this after holiday depression, I was able to find that certain studies have even created a name for it. Independent, a British online newspaper, has named it HOAD or Holiday Adjustment Disorder and is more commonly known as “being unable to cope with reality after break.”

Other, more simple, names include post-holiday blues and post-vacation blues.

So how can we fix and cope with these oh so familiar blues?

Some ways include continuing with social plans that happened or started over the break. Keep in touch with family and friends who live farther away and make plans to go out with those who are close by. Start an exercise routine that will keep you energized and get back on track with a healthy eating routine. Have at least one thing planned in your week that you can look forward to. Get enough SLEEP! And make a list of (realistic) resolutions to keep track of during the new year. In general, make it a priority to take care of yourself, whether that be by eating healthy, exercising, or getting enough rest and sleep.

For anyone dealing with the after-holiday blues, you’re not alone. And just remember, there’s only 300 or so days until next Christmas.