4 of 40

Write now Article Tools

We have all experienced the post-holiday blues at some point in our lives. As the holidays pass us by, we are faced with the prospect of several more weeks of cold and bleak weather, and the realization that there's nothing to look forward to until spring. Compounding matters is the reduced amount of daylight; a fact that has been scientifically proven to increase feelings of depression.

Fortunately, there are many ways to overcome the post-holiday blues. The most important thing is to get outside and get your daily fill of sunshine. Of course, this is easier said than done when the temperatures dip below freezing, but even spending ten or twenty minutes outside can vastly improve a person's mood. I remember once having a job which required me to arrive at work before sunrise, and not getting done until after the sun had gone down. It also didn't help that there were no windows in my workplace. The only light I got to experience was from the overhead flourescent bulbs. Naturally, it wasn't long before I was feeling cranky, irritable, and stressed out. I decided that instead of spending my lunch break in the breakroom, I would go outside for a fifteen minute walk each day. Within a few days, I was feeling much more productive and was in a much better mood.

Exercise is another way to get rid of the post-holiday blues. Thirty minutes of physical activity releases endorphins in the brain. This "feel good" hormone is responsible for the feeling of pleasure we recieve when we eat our favorite foods, ride on a roller coaster, or make love. Exercise will not only provide you with a better mood, it will also help you work off some of those unwanted holiday pounds. To achieve the mood-boosting properties of exercise, you can take brisk walks a few times a week, ride a stationary bike, or do aerobics and calisthenics. After a few weeks of regular exercise, not only will you be in better physical shape, you will be in better shape mentally and emotionally.

Spending time with friends and family can also be an effective way to improve your mood. Take a friend out to dinner, or go to the movies. Buy tickets to a concert or a sporting event. No matter where you live, there are lots of places you can go to get away from the post-holiday blues. In fact, you don't even need to leave the house to spend quality time with loved ones. Play a board game, or take out a pack of cards and play some gin rummy. It really doesn't matter what you do; it's the time spent with others that will help you chase away the post-holiday blues.

Learn more about this author, Marlin Bressi.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Ways to get rid of the post-holiday blues?
We want to hear your view. Write now!