January blues?

[mommaU4]

Well, Christmas is over after weeks (months?) of planning. Baking, shopping, cooking, wrapping, etc. has come to a halt. New Year's Eve celebrations have come to an end. Decorations are down. Kids go back to school tomorrow. And....I do believe the January blues (as my mom calls it) are already settling in.

Am I the only one who gets like this?? Not depressed, just sort of.....blah. Like an "okay, now what?" kind of feeling.

In the past I might have planned a trip, or done some after Christmas clearance shopping to perk myself up a bit. And I did find a few deals on holiday items for next year, but overall I'd like to keep spending to a minimum so I'm trying to steer clear of the stores. We aren't doing a Disney trip this year so I can't focus on that. We do have a family trip planned to San Diego, CA. in May, but that seems so far away right now that it's hard to get excited about that at the moment.

I was just wondering if anyone else feels like this around this time of year, and if so, what sort of things do you do to perk yourself up a bit?

 

[Leshaface]

Well, Christmas is over after weeks (months?) of planning. Baking, shopping, cooking, wrapping, etc. has come to a halt. New Year's Eve celebrations have come to an end. Decorations are down. Kids go back to school tomorrow. And....I do believe the January blues (as my mom calls it) are already settling in.

Am I the only one who gets like this?? Not depressed, just sort of.....blah. Like an "okay, now what?" kind of feeling.

In the past I might have planned a trip, or done some after Christmas clearance shopping to perk myself up a bit. And I did find a few deals on holiday items for next year, but overall I'd like to keep spending to a minimum so I'm trying to steer clear of the stores. We aren't doing a Disney trip this year so I can't focus on that. We do have a family trip planned to San Diego, CA. in May, but that seems so far away right now that it's hard to get excited about that at the moment.

I was just wondering if anyone else feels like this around this time of year, and if so, what sort of things do you do to perk yourself up a bit?

Omgosh ME TOO!!!! I'm taking the opportunity now to do a complete clean out of my fridge and pantry to keep me occupied and will be starting something new....a MONTH long grocery list!!! Scary, I know, but I heard about this family that lived off of $350 a month for a family of 6, by planning their meals ONE MONTH ahead! It's amazing to me, especially since our grocery budget (just me and DH) is set at $450 a month So today i'm gonna try it!

Hopefully my January blues will be kicked out the door once I start this! Maybe you should do something 'new' to keep your mind occupied as well!! Good luck!

 

[njmom47]

I do feel the same this time of year, although I didn't go crazy for the holidays.
I think it's just called SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). I am digging out my treadmill and that will be a start for me.

 

[minnie1928]

I have got the blues too...unfortunately I can't think of anything reasonable to help snap me out of it.

 

[RangerPooh]

Me too. The holiday season is over and now I'm bored. I do ahve a birthday party to research but that doesn't really fill the void. And while we've looked into a summer trip it's so far away as it will be in August before school starts back up.

I think what added to the depression this year in our house was that since our tree was so dead and dry we removed it the day after Christmas. So the holidays really ended early.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

Start a craft project. (Be careful with this one though. Many people start a "shopping project," or a "collecting project," and never really DO the project.)

Clean out closets. Organize. Pitch stuff. One room at a time clear out the clutter only keeping what is useful or special.

Go for walks. Take yourself to the local museum. Volunteer for YOU, something YOU want to do. Bake. Cook a few meals to put in the freezer. Get out your cookbooks and try out some new dinner recipes. Start exercising if you don't already. Read. Go to church. Meditate/pray. Embrace the quiet and calm. Invite friends over for dinner. Write a letter. Call a friend. Read the camera manual and learn to use your camera. Have a cookie decorating party for the kids. Go to a play/musical at your local high school. (Cheap and sooo much fun!) Plan a date with your husband. Buy some new make-up and experiment.

 

[lauriegs]

yes, I"ve started feeling this way too - some great suggestions here on this thread!! I"m going to try and get the house really clean (it soo needs it) and do some of my digital scrapbooking projects. good luck!

 

[dfchelbay]

I get this every year. If you can't actually go on a real vacation, you can go on what I call a faux vacation. Go to the library and look over all the videos/DVDs they have in their travel section. They have so many at my library. You can pick a nice warm tropical place and immerse yourself in the video. Or, you can pick videos on Florida and see all the places that are not Disney that there is to see there. Pick a foreign country you've always dreamed about visiting one day and look at all the A/V there is about it.

I'm sort of a geek, I like to learn about things I'm interested in. Winter is my slow season, so I pick that time to delve into things, projects, interests, etc. The library is a wealth of information for nearly anything...and it's free. One year I decided to build my recipe library, checked out bunches and bunches of books, adding recipes to my personal collection of those that interested me. I've done website building, programming, video editing, etc. this way too.

Sometimes I like to look into pop culture things too. Like, I never watched Six Feet Under while it was actually on tv. Checked out the entire series and spent ALOT of time watching that. Same with Sopranos, Lost, Dexter, etc.

 

[PatriciaH]

I am going to watch the video guide for my Nikon D90 and read the books I got for it. I have to learn more about what it can do. I need to find a good yoga and dance class here in town. I have mostly been walking a lot the past few weeks.

We are planning a trip to San Diego/DL in February to visit friends. Our other set of friends sent us air passes! We might all try to meet up. Looking forward to World of Color, the San Diego Zoo, Laguna Beach, Mission San Juan Capastrano, Balboa Park, hiking, sun, etc.! Also planning a 4-5 night trip in May to WDW for F&G and the 40th and a bigger trip in the fall to visit family/friends, F&W, MNSSHP, MVMCP. This keeps me happy!

 

[rubato]

This is why I always go to WDW in January. Then, I get the February blues.

 

[walkdmc]

I would be surprised if anyone who celebrates the holidays doesn't feel some "downer" in January. Plus, the sun is in short supply and this is when seasonal affective disorder or winter blues set in for many.

 

[swissfamilyrobinson]

You may want to head over to Flylady.net and check it out. She started her Super Fling Boogie January 1 (it lasts until January 31). It's very motivating, as there is a place for you to post your pounds flung! I know I need to get rid of (fling!) stuff and get a little organization around here now that the holidays are over. And, I think it helps to have a project or two. I'd like to get DS room neatened up - and am thinking about selling a few things on ebay or craigslist to get extra $$$ to buy stuff for his room.

I also think it does wonders for the spirit to have something to look forward to. Start researching for your upcoming trip and making some neat plans!

 

[mommaU4]

Scary, I know, but I heard about this family that lived off of $350 a month for a family of 6, by planning their meals ONE MONTH ahead!

I wonder how on earth they did that?? I have a family of six, two adults and four kids, but I can't imagine only spending $350 a month. Wow.

I am digging out my treadmill and that will be a start for me.

Ooooh, good idea! I don't like to exercise but I need to, and they do say it helps boost your mood. No treadmill here, but I have an exercise bike I should hop on.

Me too. The holiday season is over and now I'm bored. I do have a birthday party to research but that doesn't really fill the void.

My husband has a b-day January 13, but we are spending money on our May trip instead of on a party so even that isn't really something for me to plan.

Go for walks. Take yourself to the local museum. Volunteer for YOU, something YOU want to do. Bake. Cook a few meals to put in the freezer. Get out your cookbooks and try out some new dinner recipes. Start exercising if you don't already. Read. Go to church. Meditate/pray. Embrace the quiet and calm. Invite friends over for dinner. Write a letter. Call a friend. Read the camera manual and learn to use your camera. Have a cookie decorating party for the kids. Go to a play/musical at your local high school. (Cheap and sooo much fun!) Plan a date with your husband. Buy some new make-up and experiment.

Lots of fun ideas!! Thanks. I just need to focus on the free or cheap ones, and make sure I avoid the stores.

I get this every year. If you can't actually go on a real vacation, you can go on what I call a faux vacation.

LOL I've been doing this by watching the Travel Channel and videos on youtube. Not sure if it's helping or making it worse!

We are planning a trip to San Diego/DL in February to visit friends. Our other set of friends sent us air passes! We might all try to meet up. Looking forward to World of Color, the San Diego Zoo, Laguna Beach, Mission San Juan Capastrano, Balboa Park, hiking, sun, etc.! Also planning a 4-5 night trip in May to WDW for F&G and the 40th and a bigger trip in the fall to visit family/friends, F&W, MNSSHP, MVMCP. This keeps me happy!

Wow, sounds fun. Glad you have lots to look forward to.

This is why I always go to WDW in January. Then, I get the February blues.

I would be surprised if anyone who celebrates the holidays doesn't feel some "downer" in January.

I think you're right. It's hard not to. So much going on from October to December then it all sort of comes to a grinding halt.

 

[marko]

Start a craft project. (Be careful with this one though. Many people start a "shopping project," or a "collecting project," and never really DO the project.)

Clean out closets. Organize. Pitch stuff. One room at a time clear out the clutter only keeping what is useful or special.

Go for walks. Take yourself to the local museum. Volunteer for YOU, something YOU want to do. Bake. Cook a few meals to put in the freezer. Get out your cookbooks and try out some new dinner recipes. Start exercising if you don't already. Read. Go to church. Meditate/pray. Embrace the quiet and calm. Invite friends over for dinner. Write a letter. Call a friend. Read the camera manual and learn to use your camera. Have a cookie decorating party for the kids. Go to a play/musical at your local high school. (Cheap and sooo much fun!) Plan a date with your husband. Buy some new make-up and experiment.

Excellent ideas and activities

 

[MomToOne]

I am a planner by nature, and I find I feel the same way you do once one "project" comes to an end and I have no more planning to do. So I've learned to accept that part of myself, and have another project in mind to start working on as soon as one comes to an end:
* As soon as Christmas is done, I start planning Easter - I get great Easter basket stuff at the after Christmas sales. I also start planning our summer vacation, since this takes longer to settle on and find a deal. This year we are also heading to SF for a weekend for the Chinese New Year parade, so I will channel my planning addiction into that for a few weeks soon (although my sister is doing much of the planning on that one - apparently this planning addiction thing runs in families )
* After Easter, I move onto planning my daughter's birthday (with some vacation planning still going on too).
* After my daughter's birthday, vacation planning kicks into mega-high gear, so that occupies my time until it is done in August (with a small side planning trip for Back To School at the end of July/early August).
* Then, once we're back from vacation, it's right back to Christmas planning - yup, I start shopping and making plans in early September

I "extend" all of the planning by challenging myself to find great deals, find the cheapest prices possible for stuff, researching the heck out of options, etc. That turns what might be 2 days of planning for someone else into 2 weeks (or 2 months LOL) of planning for me!

 

[gk90]

Thanks for all the ideas everyone, will definitely try some. I usually get a mild case of January blues and am dreading it this year because my dear Grandma died 3 weeks ago and our dog had to be put down yesterday. So I know I have to do something...I'm planning to reconnect with some old friends, send some long overdue emails and letters, go to a concert with a friend. Maybe go to the plant store and get a plant, one that's hard to kill though.

 

[mommaU4]

I "extend" all of the planning by challenging myself to find great deals, find the cheapest prices possible for stuff, researching the heck out of options, etc. That turns what might be 2 days of planning for someone else into 2 weeks (or 2 months LOL) of planning for me!

I think it's true, I'm not happy unless I am planning something. Anything. lol I keep telling myself to just stop sometimes and just "be" but I'm always thinking ahead to what's next. Like you said, I guess it does work to keep busy!

Thanks for all the ideas everyone, will definitely try some. I usually get a mild case of January blues and am dreading it this year because my dear Grandma died 3 weeks ago and our dog had to be put down yesterday.

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I'm very close to my Grandma, despite the fact that she lives in another state. She's getting up there in age, and I wish I was able to see her more because I know her time with us is so limited now.
I'm also sorry for the loss of your dog.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Start a craft project. (Be careful with this one though. Many people start a "shopping project," or a "collecting project," and never really DO the project.)

Clean out closets. Organize. Pitch stuff. One room at a time clear out the clutter only keeping what is useful or special.

Go for walks. Take yourself to the local museum. Volunteer for YOU, something YOU want to do. Bake. Cook a few meals to put in the freezer. Get out your cookbooks and try out some new dinner recipes. Start exercising if you don't already. Read. Go to church. Meditate/pray. Embrace the quiet and calm. Invite friends over for dinner. Write a letter. Call a friend. Read the camera manual and learn to use your camera. Have a cookie decorating party for the kids. Go to a play/musical at your local high school. (Cheap and sooo much fun!) Plan a date with your husband. Buy some new make-up and experiment.

"Embrace the quiet and calm" that is me today. The holidays were hectic and stressful for me this year with 5 kids passing strep throat to one another I had a hard time getting things done, honestly I'm glad they're over with.

I have three projects going right now that work well with each other. I am decluttering my house, cleaning, and selling. I am not happy with our finances right now so I am listing on ebay and craigslist daily. If it doesn't sell in a couple weeks or garner any interest it goes to goodwill.

I am also tackling a to-do list. Little things, like today I needed to pick up DS's glasses prescription so I could shop around for new glasses for him. Making appointments, phone calls, etc. Things I just didn't get around to last month.

 

[brooklyn615]

I have the blues a bit myself. I can't imagine how I have the time for blues when I'm working & taking care of the family. haha This is actually the time of year I most crave planning a disney vacation. We went this past spring so we aren't going in 2011 but I feel sad. The "high" last spring from the anticipation and planning was so great..the winter/spring months went by so fast..I was downright giddy! The vacation is special to us because we were able to be a family- parents not working opposite schedules, projects at home, sports and school for the boys..we were just a family. No phone calls, projects or commitments. Our biggest concern was which characters to have breakfast with. :O) haha
So, I'm going to try some of these suggestions that have been offered her..maybe clean out some closets. Good luck!

 

[bettyann29]

Yes.. I get this way too every year...

I am heading to WDW for a few days on a solo trip on Sunday, but after that its gonna be later in the year before we can do any trips.. usually thats how I spend the time-- by planning and getting ready for a trip..

This year, I decided, that I will do some other things to preoccupy my time..

-I have started walking 5 miles minimum each day.. it allows me to get out of the house and have some alone time to think and clear my head..
-I am also doing a major cleanover of the house.. each day I will be cleaning, destashing, cleaning out closets, etc. etc. until its all done (this should take me quite some time)
-concentrate on spending time with my family


Once I get all the things done that I want to get done, Im thinking of starting back on my scrapbooking.. that will definitely keep me occupied..