I’ve written before about PCB -- Post Christmas Blues.  It’s that lethargic feeling that comes as a result of the post holiday let-down, January blah, or just plain winter doldrums. Whatever you call it, it begins after the holiday season when the weather is cold and days are shorter, and it ends before Spring.

    PBC is an expectation condition, not to be confused with the neurological condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). 

1.     If come mid-January and you still can not pull yourself from your blues, you may first need a PCB Rescue Plan.  For it to work, though, you must follow these guidelines:
   
   Give yourself permission to be blue rather than tell yourself to shake out of it.
2. Set aside 10 minutes when you can be in the dumps, mope around, feel sorry for yourself. You may be grumpy or weepy, so warn others to stay away during these few minutes.  When you feel blue at other moments, tell yourself to wait until your next 10 minute period.  Schedule as many periods each day as needed.
3. Have something planned for the end of your 10 minute period that will pull you into a different frame of mind.  It might be preparing dinner, calling your best friend, watching an engaging television show, or even leaving for work. Planning what comes right after your moping will make it easier to shift out of the mood.

    Some people fear if they give into the blahs, they will feel worse.  Not true, not if you know you have a limited time and then you must get on with your everyday life.  This PCB Rescue Plan teaches your body to respect the limits you set for yourself,so you can have your emotions but be in control of them.

(This same plan can be used for other emotional situations, whether it be grieving a death or not getting an anticipated award.)

The PCB Rescue Plan should help, bit if by mid-February, if you are still down, you might consult a therapist.  Sometimes, the seasonal PCB passes, but inits wake it sets off other feelings which extend the blues.