Avoid the “Holiday Hangover” – the Christmas season and the holidays are such a magical time. The never ending celebrations flow from Halloween to New Years with costumes, dinners, holiday teas, class parties, travel and gifts. Families gather frequently and with intentionality and schedules are full.
And then suddenly- it all comes to an abrupt halt.
January comes and the magic is gone. Decorations are boxed up, classes resume, and the monotony of day-to-day life kicks in.
For many, this transition is a difficult one. Children return to school and experience stressors of long days and prepping for standardized testing in the spring. Parents return to work and get caught back in the 9 to 5 grind of deadlines and meetings. Stay-at-home parents are back to the routine of carpools, fixing lunches, laundry and meal prep.
How to help the whole family avoid the holiday hangover:
1. Keep the magic alive: There are many easy ways to incorporate “magic” in to our daily lives. One of the ways Ally Bayard, LPC-S and parenting counselor encourages parents to help children avoid the holiday hangover is to look for ways to incorporate playfulness. Kids don’t have the same perception of time that we do as adults, so it can be confusing to go from months of holiday magic and celebration to a dark and boring January. There are many little ways to turn mundane tasks in to play. Try marching like elephants to the dinner table instead of walking. Pull out the leftover glow sticks from Halloween and take a glow stick bath. Hang last year’s Mardi Gras beads on the Christmas tree and make it a Mardi Gras tree through February.
2. Get your children support: Some children need more than a little playfulness to get through this transition out of the holidays and in to the near year. Days are short, it’s dark most of the afternoon, school demands have increased, and all of those stressors add up. Some signs that your child might benefit from play therapy or counseling would be: difficulty paying attention at school, frequent conflict with classmates or siblings, intense or long-lasting meltdowns, or seeming not like themselves. The team at Refinery has several clinicians who specialize in working with children as young as 3, and with parents to support their children who may be struggling.
3. Check in on your marriage: Divorce rates peak in the spring following the holiday season. Research shows that marriages take a toll from the holiday stress. From in-laws to finances, many couples find the holiday season difficult, but hold it together for the sake of the family, and then separate or divorce after the start of the new year. Research shows that marriage counseling is 70% effective. Don’t wait until things are at a breaking point to seek support. Connecting with a licensed marriage and family therapist can provide your marriage the support it needs to survive the holidays and holiday hangover.
Refinery Counseling Center is a boutique mental health counseling office. We offer services for the whole family: moms, dads, children, teens, couples, and families. Check out our complete list of services and providers.
By Ally Bayard, LPC-S, CAS
Pictured: Madison H., Provisional Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist & Professional Licensed Professional Counselor at Refinery Counseling Center, works with parents, couples, and children to address family dynamics and relationship stressors during challenging seasons.
Also pictured, Ally Bayard, Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Approved Supervisor and Certified Autism Specialist and Janie H., Licensed Master of Social work, both provide play therapy and parenting consultations. Ally also provides marriage and relationship counseling.
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8044-1 Summa Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 277-6454
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“Ask the Experts” is a series on Baton Rouge Family Fun where local experts share their thoughts, opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness, parenting and living in Baton Rouge.