For many people, Christmas is the best time of the year. And the season starts quite early, usually a few weeks before the actual celebration itself. And for stores, the Christmas season is often right across the aisle of the Halloween decorations. So it is understandable that we can find ourselves addicted to the Christmas feeling.
When you think I miss Christmas already just after a few days, you might be addicted to the season. Holiday music, food, and decorations connect our senses to Christmas in a tangible way, so it can feel stark when they’re suddenly gone. Being proactive and adjusting for the discrepancy can help.
There is so much going on that once Christmas is over, some begin to miss the holidays and all that comes with it. I mean, I miss the holidays too, and getting back to work and waving goodbye to loved ones is usually difficult. But for some, it goes beyond difficult. It can actually become overwhelming.
I have a few ideas to help. Let’s look at why we miss Christmas and what to do about it.
Contents
Why I Miss Christmas (And Others Do Too)
Some people miss Christmas as soon as it’s over. The sensory overload can cause holiday addiction. Others miss nostalgic Christmases past. Then there are those who miss it because it’s a respite from everyday life. If missing Christmas gets overwhelming, you might need to seek professional help.
And you may find yourself wondering what to do to fill the void left by the holiday season. This can actually cause depression, or what is sometimes called “post-holiday syndrome.”
Consensus among experts is that the adrenaline comedown is the main culprit.
Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, Princeton, NJ clinical psychologist
- Sensory Overload- Many get so addicted to the sights, sounds, touch, and taste of Christmas that once those things change (sometimes as soon as the day after Christmas) the absence is too much to bear.
- Others miss Christmas because it reminds them of their childhood and simpler times. Many people see Christmas as a way of reaching back to when things were just easier.
- Christmas and the holidays give us an excuse to take a break and pause from our regular routine and expectations. This acts almost as an escape mechanism. It’s a time when we permit ourselves to break loose, and just enjoy. Obviously we shouldn’t ‘party’ all year long because that’s really not healthy (imagine how eating like the holidays all year would affect us!) or economical (if we spent like everyday is Christmas, I think we’d all be in trouble!).
With 9 out of 10 people celebrating Christmas each year, and with all the hoopla of the holiday season, it’s understandable that we feel a little let down once it’s over. Some of us try to even hang on longer, and prolong our Christmas into mid-January.
I once even heard of a lady who kept up her Christmas decorations til Valentine’s Day! But as grown ups, we know we must move forward. If not, we stagnate and all sorts of problems ensue.
So with that in mind, let’s look at what to do when you think ‘I miss Christmas already’ and it’s just passed!
What to do When You Think I Miss Christmas Already
There are some ways to be proactive about missing Christmas.
When you think I miss Christmas already, there are some ways to deal with that effectively. Being proactive with strategies can minimize the sense of loss when Christmas is over. Also, seeking help from family, friends, and even healthcare professionals are healthy ways to handle missing Christmas.
First of all, you’re going to have to slow down. With all the excitement and the ups and downs of the Christmas season, it’s going to be a little quiet when you return to a more normal, simpler, and less exciting routine.
You know as well as I do that Christmas can be very exciting, and with adrenaline-pumping, nieces and nephews yelling, gifts to open, letters to respond to, and love to share, it’s usually very loud. So try settling down into your routine at a quieter pace. It may be hard at first, but you will settle back into your routine and get back to normal in no time, in most cases.
Also, keep in mind that the holidays are over does not mean you should stop spending time with family and loved ones. On the contrary, the presence of loved ones is part of what makes the holiday so special, so if you keep seeing them and spend time doing some of the fun things you did during Christmas, then you’ll miss the holidays less and fill some of that void.
In addition, have a positive attitude about the new year. Part of the reason for your post-holiday blues may be because you’re apprehensive about the new year. Maybe you had a lovely time the previous year, and you’re not sure if the trend will continue, or maybe it was the opposite. Either way, be prepared to let go of the past and hope for the best going forward.
Additional Suggestions to deal with Missing Christmas:
- Exercise (endorphins from exercise are a natural mood booster)
- Cook healthy foods (May I suggest The Skinnytaste Cookbook: Light on Calories, Big on Flavor on Amazon? It’s perfect for the new year!)
- Get out of the house (whether it’s cleaning up the yard or exploring nature, getting fresh air often leads to a more positive attitude)
- Take up a hobby (this can take our mind off of what we’re missing from Christmas by concentrating on learning something new)
But there are special cases where it’s difficult to get back on track, and into your routine, no matter what you try. Communication is key to handling this. If possible in your situation, talk to your family or close friends. Maybe just the act of sharing your problems with people you trust will be enough to get you over the hump.
However, if that doesn’t seem to be the case, then it’s time to talk to a professional. You can start with your medical doctor. Post-holiday blues are real, affecting at least 25 percent of adults.
Is It normal To Miss The Christmas Season?
It’s normal to miss Christmas after it’s over. Kids and adults alike miss the merriment of the season and the break from normal, every day routines. Keeping that in mind, if it is overly burdensome to move beyond the holidays and adjust back to normalcy, then professional help might be warranted.
It would be a little strange if you didn’t miss the familiar smell of Christmas in the air and all the beauty and happiness that comes with it. For most people, Christmas is the best time of the year, with friends and family; festive decorations; and wonderful, indulgent food. And of course, all the special gifts and gift-giving.
Taking time off work to spend with your family and special friends is probably the best thing of all about the Christmas season. It’s certainly normal to miss those moments together and long for them again, even though it’s just been a day, a week, or a month.
All things considered, it’s pretty normal that you feel some melancholy when the season comes to an end. I mean, who wouldn’t. So after the festivities of the holiday, it’s okay to feel a little blue and find it harder to function at your regular pace and your usual schedule, be it your job or school or anything else. It’s very common. And it is sometimes called Holiday Blues, Christmas blues, and holiday depression.
You may also like these related articles:
- What is the Present in Christmas Vacation? (More Than One)
- What’s Meant When Adults And Kids Say, ‘I Miss Halloween’
- Where Is Whoville In Real Life? (Revealed)
While people may not talk about it a lot, others may feel it’s just a regular thing. Missing the Christmas season is very common, and it happens to a lot of people. However, most of them just don’t think it’s something worth sharing or just wait for the feeling to pass.
However, missing the festivities, the family, the bustle, the presents, the turkey, the cookies, and the general sense of “Christmas in the air” is very normal and is much more common than you would think.
Places To Visit If You Miss Christmas
Although it is perfectly okay to miss the holiday season, you don’t have to sit around and feel bad about it. In addition to the aforementioned tips and suggestions for dealing with missing Christmas, there are also some places you can visit to help you feel better, bring back Christmas memories, and give you that special feeling again.
These towns keep the Christmas cheer alive throughout the year and are famous for maintaining an all-year-round holiday spirit.
The North Pole, Alaska Can Get You Close to Christmas.
Visiting North Pole, Alaska is one town you can visit to extend Christmas past December 25th. However, you should keep in mind that the town is 1700 miles south of the actual North Pole! Notwithstanding, they maintain a Christmas theme all year round and visiting could give you the feeling of Christmas whether it’s January, July, or October.
The local businesses at North Pole are into the idea that it is Christmas all year round, too. Streetlights in the town look like Candy Canes, and there is even a street named Santa Claus Lane. There are also Christmas-themed events all year round.
Santa Claus, Indiana Can Help if You Miss Christmas.
Santa Claus is another Christmas-themed town you can visit at any time of year and still get that Christmasy feeling. The town is located 95 miles south of Bloomington, Indiana, and the town capitalizes on its name for the benefit of tourists and locals. There is an amusement park, a campground, and a holiday grocery store.
Christmas, Florida is Christmas all year.
Well, there’s a town called Santa Claus, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that there’s a town called Christmas, Florida too. And it is one of the best places to visit if you find yourself missing Christmas. The town has a lot of holiday-themed roads, a Christmas museum, and other tourist attractions.
Keep in mind that Christmas in anywhere Florida might not be so Christmas-y if you’re used to a weather-related Christmas that involves cold and possible snow. But nonetheless, it’s bound to be interesting!
When Does The Christmas Season End?
Christmas tide is usually considered to last for twelve days. Yes! The twelve days of Christmas song is focused on 12 days for a reason, so the Christmas season ends on the 5th of January.
Although for some, the Christmas season extends all through January. Usually, the festivities begin early on in December, with people hanging Christmas decorations and getting presents. Traditional for many nowadays is to put up Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving.
For our family, we put up some decorations the day or weekend after Thanksgiving and gradually increase the decorations the closer it gets to Christmas. We don’t decorate the tree fully until Christmas midnight. This is all part of our Advent tradition before Christmas.
But the real Christmas day for everyone begins on the 25th of December, and the holidays continue through some part of January.
So people usually start packing up the festivities after the actual Christmas day has passed, usually a few days to weeks later. The holiday blues can start for some, though, right away, when the parties and festivities have stopped.
Wrapping Up Missing Christmas Already
To wrap it all up, it’s normal to think I miss Christmas already, just as soon as December 25th has passed. Some may miss the parties or food; others miss the time with family and friends. It’s also common to miss the decorations once they go back into the music.
For most of us our senses have been inundated with Christmas, from sound, sight, touch, and taste! When all that goes away suddenly, it’s a bit daunting. It is like experiencing a loss.
Hopefully the tips and suggestions shared here will help you if you find yourself missing Christmas in January or later. However, if the loss becomes overwhelming, please don’t hesitate to seek outside help and support!
To read next, I recommend these related articles:
