Post-Xmas Blues. Anybody else got em?

Christmas, in my adult life, has always been the craziest time of year for me. Crazy busy at work, shopping/setting up the house for the kids, etc.

This year was an especially good one (money-wise,) and I decided to shut the shop down from 12/24-1/2 to get some serious quality time with the kids/friends, and catch up on house projects/RELAX.

My 8-year-old daughter came up to me today, crying, and said "Daddy, I'm just having the worst day ever."

I kinda felt the same way. We took a LONG walk together and didn't really "talk it out." Just enjoyed being outside, poking sticks in ant-hills, throwing frisbees, and making each other laugh.

Got back to the house, and every "honey-do" project I've attempted has failed miserably.

To make matters worse, I was hanging with a friend from TN yesterday, and started talking about Jon Haas. Sent said friend a couple links just now (Fort Sanders Yacht Club/Pickle Mansion) and got even more bummed. berkeley, that dude is sorely missed.

E36 M3. I forgot the point of this post, and feel dumb not just being really thankful for a few days off with my kids. Anybody else going through this? 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

but yes. 

now its wait for tax return car buying time.

MrChaos said:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651

 

but yes. 

now its wait for tax return car buying time.

That definitely affects me, every year. But it doesn't usually hit until mid-January when it seems like winter will never end. It doesn't help that gets dark so early, too.

As a garbage man, the week after Christmas is HELL.

Most of the houses have 2 to 3 times as much trash, and I don't really feel like doing anything at all after work.

We all know that the honey do list is never quite finished, and between that and taking care of the kids, ole Brandon doesn't feel well at all.

Yup, I hate the Xmas season in general, and the cold+dark didn’t help. Fortunately moving south has improved the last-2 greatly(and was definitely the $$ and suffering through several years to complete the move & catch up financially).

With our kids being adults, I can generally avoid #1. We also did something new this year: everyone setup their own Amazon wish list, and we just ordered stuff for each other from that. WAY less stress than  dealing with crowds, guessing what someone wants, or trying to find a source for it. 

Every year all winter. Fighting it hard, hiking as much as I can. Trying to stay active.  

Yup.  Got Carli one of those SAD lamps.  Gonna sit under it tomorrow after she leaves for work.  It's even worse being injured so I can't do the stuff i'm used to.  

Depressed but for many other reasons than just the seasons.

I have about a week before it really kicks in, then I have to really work to drag myself out of bed every morning until about mid April.  I had my family family up for a Christmas party today and was hoping that would help put it off for a bit but in spite of putting a ton of work into making a special day for everyone I don't know that they all left happy.  I absolutely love Christmas time but the post holiday let down is miserable.

The darkness tends to affect me as well, but on the bright side the days are already getting longer.

stuart in mn said:

The darkness tends to affect me as well, but on the bright side the days are already getting longer.

This

December blows goats.  Every day is a little darker, shorter, and colder.  All piled on top of Christmas which is just too much.  
 

But it's getting better on this side of the solstice, it may be cold (and gonna get colder) but the days ARE getting longer and the stress of Christmas is behind us for another year.

Be happy, things are getting better!!

Ranger50 said:

Depressed but for many other reasons than just the seasons.

You and me both,  buddy. 

I've been feeling it this week too, but suspect it has more to do with being on day 8 of the flu.   

Sitting at the bar, alone as usual. I hate winter. 

Was lucky to spend a few days down south to see my dad and brother, but now it's back to work and it's slow. Gives you a lot of time to think about stuff but not have any time to do anything about it can't wait for better weather.....

Hang in there man.  This time of year can be tough with the holidays wrapping up.  My kids are having a great time and I’ve taken time off work but I’m not getting the home projects wrapped up like I had hoped.   Just keep hustlin.  

Christmas has been rough the last 5 years. I lost my mom on Dec 24th, 2014 and the season has pretty much sucked ever since.

We used to get together to cook Christmas dinner and get everything ready. Now, there's no point really, it's just my wife and I for Christmas.

I find some comfort in remembering that I'm actually incredibly lucky to have the life I do and that being born in a first world country means I'm already much better off than 99% of the folks on this planet.

Just have to keep in mind that it's just a feeling and that it will pass in time.

Be grateful that you wake up in the morning. Plenty of people didn't even get to do that today.

Wally said:

I have about a week before it really kicks in, then I have to really work to drag myself out of bed every morning until about mid April.  I had my family family up for a Christmas party today and was hoping that would help put it off for a bit but in spite of putting a ton of work into making a special day for everyone I don't know that they all left happy.  I absolutely love Christmas time but the post holiday let down is miserable.

It's less about "seasonal" depression, and more about this ^^^ ...I think.

I berkeleying rocked it out for xmas; got all my work done, plus a few Christmas miracles for customers. Attended all required parties, got the kids' list checked off, all presents to friends & family on time, tree, lights, fuggin elf on the shelf every night, etc etc etc.

After all that, every stupid, SIMPLE project I'd hoped to get done with this unprecedented time off has been a E36 M3-show. On top of that, my amazing wife got knocked down with a gnarly cold (she's usually 100mph 100% of the time,) so I'm cooking, cleaning, breaking up kid-fights, yada yada.

I feel like a total E36 M3head complaining. Things could certainly be worse, and I have so much to be thankful for. Just in a bummer mood.

wawazat said:

Hang in there man.  This time of year can be tough with the holidays wrapping up.  My kids are having a great time and I’ve taken time off work but I’m not getting the home projects wrapped up like I had hoped.   Just keep hustlin.  

At this point, I'm waffling between "keep hustlin" and "berkeley it. Bail on all projects and relax." ...though it's tough to relax when the projects are looming.

One other thing for me personally, unlike many people who are bothered by their impending birthday & being a year older, the start of the new year is what does it to me. The new calendar on the wall, remembering to write the new year on checks(when both of those were still a thing...), all the shows/news reports about the celebrities/musicians/artists who passed on that year, etc. 

I think for me it hits much later.  Like after the reality of a couple cold, dark months wears me down.  I always look forward to the end of February, since that usually means nice weather is just around the corner.  Heck, yesterday and today was warm enough to be outside in my t-shirt.

I must be a little off. I can deal with Winter just not Holidays. If we had three cold months between Halloween and Easter with Nothing between I would be about 900x less stressed. 

Yes I get it, but for me it isn’t so much the post holiday stuff (although I do LOVE Christmastime) as I get my birthday, and my wife’s birthday to look forward to shortly so much as the going back to work. I hate the idea that I have to go back and... well, insert a Fight Club quote here. 

In general I have little right to complain.  But the wife left to visit family up north the day after christmas, this is the first year the daughter has not come to visit for the holidays now that Ive moved south so its been 4 days on my own which can be a bit on the depressing side.   I found ways to occupy my time and get in trouble which helped keep me distracted from it but in general I'm almost looking forward to going back to work just to have some normalcy and routine back in my life.

This year is been anxiety that's keeping me from doing anything.  Been a fight just trying to get to the garage and do anything.  Having surgery 10 weeks ago with 4 weeks off for recovery zapped my energy.  Got a bunch of work I wanted to do to my Olds and get my civic ready to sell and lots of that didn't happen.  Leaving for work before dawn and coming home after dark doesn't help.  I know its just temporary and that it could be much worse.

I cant remember a single christmas that i didnt feel depressed afterwards. This year was no different, fortunately it was just a day. 

"Seasonal depression" hits every year too with the time change. Dark-ish on way to work, dark on way home. Get nothing done outside.  I put BRIGHT led lightbulbs in the house and i'll have them all on when i get home. It makes a BIG difference for me and my Wife.  Having a dark house is bad for me. Having the windows boarded for hurricanes is an instant depressor.