From Christmas shopping to parties; from decorating cookies to decorating the home; from visiting Santa to visiting family; from making resolutions to ringing in the New Year: The holidays have left little time to relax and recoup. Now that the holiday season has concluded, holiday cheer has gone from 60 to 0 mph overnight.Susan Battley, Ph.D., clinical associate professor at the State University of New York at Stoneybrook, said that many people begin to dwell on the past and find themselves in a downward spiral after the holidays. Dr. Gary Malone, medical chief of staff at Baylor All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, said he sees more cases of depression in January than any other month. Family grudges resurface with a new year, as do memories of lost loved ones. A lack of clear goals leaves many with little to look forward to in the coming months. Without the distraction of the holiday hustle and bustle, depression begins to set in, he said.The first step in battling New Year’s depression is to recognize the symptoms. Malone said help should be sought if any of the following symptoms exist: a persistent empty or sad feeling, too little or too much sleep, a loss of interest in a previously enjoyed activity and thoughts of death or suicide. Ongoing depression also can be a sign of a physical imbalance. One should consult a professional when depression is severe and lasts more than a few days, Malone said.Exercise is at the top of Malone’s list of steps to combat depression. Exercise produces feel-good chemicals, and dropping a few pounds or inches in the process doesn’t hurt one’s mood either.Andrew Dubrin, Ph.D., professor of management at Rochester Institute of Technology in Henrietta, N.Y., said January can be a clean slate. He said he looks at the positive and compliments even the smallest of accomplishments. Dubrin also said updating one’s resume can boost self-confidence.Maggie Bedrosian, author of “Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter Free for Life,” said January is a good month to remove clutter from one’s life and mind. “It’s not what you get rid of, it’s what you keep,” Bedrosian said. When deciding what to keep and what to get rid of, ask yourself three questions: Is it useful? Is it beautiful? Do you love it? If not, toss it!Battley said she recommends “a big audacious goal” such as learning a new language, starting a business or volunteering. Putting it in writing, listing the potential obstacles and working with a buddy for accountability will help make the goal real and attainable, she said. Focusing on what can be done and controlled are key elements in accomplishing goals.
