The day following a holiday break is always a major struggle for me, and today — three days after Thanksgiving — is no different. My one year old was up at 5:30am, the kids were ready to see their friends at school, and I was even ready to have them out of the house (can you believe that?). Once drop off was complete and I returned home, this intense anxiety and frustration started settling in. I was hungry, tired, annoyed, and you guessed it — whiney. Woo, it was not a pretty sight. I sat down at my desk and looked around my house. I saw Christmas decorations displayed in all the wrong places by my older boys who just wanted to help. A few Fall decorations had also managed to hide while I had torn through the house ripping down the burnt orange and burlap in excitement for sparkles and garland that would take its place. Laundry had to be put away, the floors mopped and the kitchen tidied. Ah, ’tis the season, right?
Well, I’ve named the ugly beast of emotion that reared it’s head today the “Post-Holiday Whine.” It’s the state of mind between holiday brain, routine brain, and the ” if-only” brain. Symptoms include:
- slamming cabinets doors
- repeatedly dropping the same laundry item as you try to hang it up
- Tossing toys back in the room they belong in (not so gingerly)
- A deep desire to nap and scream at the same time
- Dissatisfaction with current work/life balance
The list really does go on. I’m telling you, if you’ve never felt this, consider yourself lucky. As I sat at my desk and identified very early in the day that today was going to be no good, I tried a few things to cheer me up. First, I listened to Christmas music, then I prayed that God would release me from my anxiousness, then I tried to do some of the chores that were really weighing me down. Getting the clothes put away helped for sure, but I was still feeling the heaviness. The kids were gone, we were back in routine, I was really expecting to feel a lightness in my step today that it was soul crushing when my head and my heart just weren’t syncing up. So, I just sat in it, apologized to my husband profusely for my grumpiness, and got through my work day. When it was time to pick up the kids, I grabbed a cup of coffee at Foxtail and put on Jireh by Elevation Worship.
I will be content in every circumstance. You are Jireh, you are enough…
Jireh, Elevation Worship
Just a humble reminder that even though I was really feeling the Post-Holiday whines, I knew that my unsettling feelings would subside if I would just be content in my circumstance. If I would just be okay with the fact that my house was in shambles, I wasn’t ready to go back to work, and it was just going to be a tough day. Jesus says in Matthew 6:25-34 to not worry about your life. The birds are fed, the grass is clothed, aren’t you of more value than them to God? The answer is yes, so He will provide and he will take care of you. This scripture and the song is a reminder of who we can put our faith in when the Post-Holiday Whines kick in. It wasn’t pretty for me today, but I know that keeping that in mind made a difference in how I got through the day.
So as I wrap up my day here with a glass of wine, I’ve survived my case of the Post-Holiday Whines and I’m ready for tomorrow. If you had a rough first day back like me, just know that you’re gonna make it through, because God’s got this. God’s got you.
Cheers!
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