During my years in the classroom I often wondered who came back with the worst holiday hangover – my students or me.

 

Let’s face it, we all look forward to the holiday break, but maybe not as much as we do spring break and definitely not as much as we look forward to the end of the school year. By the end of the school year most of us can’t wait for that three-month break from the little cherubs whose minds we have enlightened for the past nine months.

 

Going into the holidays it seems as though the break is well timed and will refresh us as we move into the grueling six months of education awaiting us in the New Year. The problem is that the holiday rush filled with shopping, cooking, parties, relatives, friends, parties, card-writing, thank you cards, parties, weather issues, decorations, parties, taking decorations down and cleaning up after parties sometimes takes more out of us than the worst behavior problems in the classroom. We hope to come back refreshed, but many times come back drained and less prepared to deal with our educational charges.

 

Here are a few tips from Jenn Savedge, an author from Mother Nature Network, which may help keep you from falling prey to the post holiday blues:

 

Expect some letdown. One day you are laughing with friends, eating your mom’s famous cheesecake, and snuggling with your kiddos in front of the fireplace; the next day you are back to work in your boring old cubicle. It’s normal to feel a little bummed that the holidays are over, but you don’t have to let those feelings consume you. That’s why you need to…

 

Make plans. Map out your training for a spring 5K, book a mid-winter weekend away, or call a friend that you didn’t get to see over the holidays and schedule a lunch date. Give yourself something to look forward to so that you feel better about leaving the holidays behind.

 

Make healthy choices. Even if you feel like you are just going through the motions, make a conscious effort to eat well and get a little exercise during this period. It will do your body and your mind a world of good and keep you from spiraling downward.

 

Go public. After all of the socializing of the holidays, it’s common to want to hide out when you feel the holiday blues approaching. But staying connected with family and friends will help you move on from the holidays and once again enjoy your day-to-day life.

 

Seek help. If the holiday blues have really got you down, do not be afraid to seek help, either from your inner circle of loved ones or from a health care professional. While it may have a cutesy name, the post-holiday blues is a very real condition, and you don’t have to go through it alone. Call your mom, your best friend, or your doctor and let them know how you are feeling. Sometimes, just knowing someone is there to listen can go a long way to improving your mood.