After Christmas Blues? Never!
We all know about the letdown when the gifts are finally unwrapped and the meals and treats are devoured. Some have more trouble than others with wintry blues and emotional lows after the big day. These are some things I've found helpful.
Plan Your Garden
Garden seed catalogs start popping out of mailboxes in January. If you don't receive catalogs, you can start by checking out Gurneys and Burpee. If you don't have a garden, you can always get an EarthBox® or plant a small indoor herb garden. Nothing says "new beginnings" like watching green things grow!
Raid the Sales
Once I got $100 worth of chocolate for $10 after the holiday was over. In the refrigerator it kept for several months until I had eaten and/or shared it all. Paper napkins, plates, and cups with holiday decorations on them can be reduced to as much as one tenth their normal price. They can be saved for next year or you can use them right away if you or your friends and family don't mind what's on them.
Wrapping paper, bows, and small stocking stuffers can also be snatched up at unbelievable bargains and set aside for next year. I may not speak for everybody, but I find saving money extremely cheerful!
Start a New Hobby (or Revive an Old One)
Has it been a long time since you've played the piano or knitted a scarf? Have you always wanted to learn disco dancing? A small investment in a hobby can lead to a huge payoff if it makes you feel better. Some hobbies can also be profitable if you make things you can sell at flea markets or online. You can also start making and storing a supply of inexpensive gifts in place of having to buy them for that next birthday, shower, wedding, etc.
Acquire a Pet
Christmas isn't a good time to get a new pet because you may be too busy to care for it properly and your resources may already be strained. After Christmas, however, is a great time to start planning for a new family member and poring over the pictures on adoption websites. Even if you can't afford it now, planning ahead, saving, and researching your choices leaves you no time for the blues.
Funny Movies
Buy or rent some classic humor and spend a few minutes enjoying a break. Depending on your personal taste you might like Lucille Ball, Laurel and Hardy, Abbot and Costello, Candid Camera (footage from the old original series), The Carol Burnett Show, Red Skelton, or the Three Stooges. There are many, many more great comedy shows. Start searching for what makes you smile. We've all heard about the health benefits of laughter. Give yourself a healthy dose!