First Monday back to work and handling post-holiday blues

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The gifts have been opened, the Christmas trees are coming down, and for many people, it’s time to get back to work. Surprisingly, many Milwaukeeans aren’t feeling the post-holiday dread – they’re actually excited.

'Twas the first Monday of the new year, and all through the city there were offices full of employees feeling…bad.

“I took a lot more time off than I expected, so I'm also like, ugh, I still have to get out of bed, and that’s rough,” said Clayton Alvarez.

Yeah – it’s that time of year.

“We’re not getting a lot of sunlight, it’s very cold,” said Dr. Nicole Steil, a psychologist with Ascension Wisconsin.

For some, the post-holiday blues have flown right over Milwaukee.

“Back here for school, so I'm just pumped to be back with my friends, with my team, and have a great year,” said Jadyn Castillo.

“The holiday rush is over, so to speak, and I feel like sleepy January is what’s coming,” said Dan Warren.

Psychologists say for many people, getting back into the routine of things helps push away feelings of dread.

“Going back to work and knowing what to expect and knowing what the week looks like – a lot of us actually do well with that,” said Dr. Steil.

It starts with baby steps.

“I think of it as a waterslide. It's hard. That first step can be scary, but once you’re going, you’re going,” said Alvarez.

Before you know it, the year is flying by.

“Just keep pushing forward. I'm looking forward to summer. You know, it’s almost about to be warm. Just two more months,” said Josh Legere.

So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, experts say plan a night out or a vacation.

“Having something to look forward to can be a really great way to mitigate some of that dread,” said Dr. Steil.

Before you know it, the holiday blues could be out of sight and everything could feel a little brighter.

“I think there’s a lot of hope and I think people are just excited to keep doing what they’re doing,” said Janae Adams.

If you are experiencing feelings of dread for long periods of time, around two to four weeks, experts say that’s a great time to reach out to your primary care physician for help and talk those feelings through.