I hear you! Same here, plus I have a nasty cold/cough, so that's not helping. I hate Jan and Feb, and what usually helps me get through it is to make plans. Right now we have a few minor house projects/purchases in process, so that's keeping me somewhat busy, and I've been busy making plans with friends for a few dinners out, etc., over the next several weeks. Not sure if any of this is the answer to your issues, but I can empathize!

Meanwhile, though, I just want to stay in and read a book.

I know I sleep better when I consistently exercise so that inspired me to get back on track after my holiday visitors left.

It's funny that even with little to no exercise and my eating habits being altered during weeks I have visitors, I always end up at the lowest point of my acceptable weight range. I don't know why I can eat bagels and treats and drink wine nightly and not gain weight during those few magical weeks. If I try it when I don't have a house full of visitors it doesn't play out the same way. So as I drop them off at the airport, I know it's time to return to my normal eating patterns or I'll start gaining weight.

I put my schedule on hold while I have my visitors, because I want to spend as much time with them as I can, so after 3+ weeks I really look forward to getting back into my routines and activities. I enjoy the break but start to miss the usual things so I don't have trouble getting back into my normal routine.

Get on the scale to face how much damage you did.

Take a walk in the sunshine to reinvigorate your energy level.

Make yourself a promise to do something healthy today...and keep it!

Get dressed as soon as you get up and get out of the house for whatever reason! I find myself wanting to hibernate this time of year now that the holidays are over. At least 3 days a week, I meet my friends to run - we meet after dropping our kids off at school. But on the days that dh takes the kids, I find it very hard to get motivated. Only thing that saves me is if I don't let myself sit down after they are out the door (either putting on my exercise clothes as soon as I get out of bed and make myself go to the gym or immediately get started on whatever chore needs to be taken care of). Of course, here I sit on my computer while I should be finally taking my tree down LOL, however, I did run 5 miles this morning, got my car washed and went to the grocery store b/f coming home. I sat at my computer while eating my lunch, and now can't get motivated to do my tree....

Make a list before you go to bed of what you need to do. When you get up, get dressed/showered, so you are ready to go and then get started on the list. I find that when I take the time to make a list, it feels good each time I cross something off. I have a list for immediate tasks and long-term tasks.

I do find there are days when I need to take a break and just hibernate though. I have four young kids so some days, I feel like I'm on the go the entire day and don't rest until they go to bed but by then I'm exhausted. So every once in a while, I do have a day that I don't feel guilty if I don't do a thing (that was Monday this week for me, though I did run 4 miles first, then came home and folded laundry while I watched Downton Abbey and The Good Wife since I fell asleep on them the night before!). But I felt extremely guilty as I had planned to take down our tree on Monday and here it is Wednesday and it's still here. Ugh!

I am so happy to see this thread~I thought it was just *me*.
Fourkids, I hear ya! I can't get my trees down either, and sit and look at them every day, knowing I need to get the ball rolling on this.

I swear, today has got to be the day!!

Patty_cakes, I just finished! After convincing myself to get off the computer, I turned up the volume on my iTunes on my computer, and started taking everything off, acting crazy and singing to myself as I did so. Boy, a lot more work than putting it up. Well not really, I hate stringing the lights. Each of my four kids has their own container of ornaments (they get at least 2 ornaments marked with their name and year every Christmas) and they love to put their ornaments on the tree so the only thing I do is put the lights on, the garland, and then our family ornaments. I didn't realize how much time was saved by them putting their own ornaments on - took me a while to get them all off and stored in their containers. The tree is still up though - have to wait for dh to get home to take it outside. I'm totally not looking forward to the needles shedding.

So, I'm almost completely done with putting Christmas away until next year. Now I've got a few minutes to spare before heading out to get the kids from school.

I'm in the exact same boat. We all got a flu type virus even though we got flu shots and I can't seem to shake it.

I haven't taken my trees down yet either. I'm glad to read I'm not the only one.

Hmmm, I work so after the holidays the routine pretty much comes to ME :). All I have to do is go to the office and there we are, back to the grind.

This holiday season I actually wondered to myself what life would be like if I didn't have my normal routine. I took some extra days off so ended up being home for 3 whole weeks. I certainly didn't get much done. I had envisioned tackling all kinds of projects. However it was ever so much more tempting to lounge around in the morning after sleeping late, then spend the afternoon napping, reading, napping, snacking, and napping. Leisurely dinner, some tv time, then some more reading till bedtime. Next morning: rinse and repeat.

It did make me realize I'd better figure out what the heck I want life to be like after retirement because if not, I may never do anything productive again!

Ann

I see it a little differently. My body and brain are telling me I must take it easy for days, even a couple weeks, after the frenzy of The Holidays. My tree is still up, the whole house needs recleaning, heck, I still have a few xmas cookies that need eating!

Why the hurry? If you WANT to do it, do it. Otherwise, eventually, maybe this week, maybe next, you'll get it done. Meanwhile, enjoy the respite, read, watch TV, have another cuppa something, practice your craft, play with your husband and kids, whatever. I am. I'm not stressed at all about "getting back to normal." I'll get there soon enough. Probably.

Mimi---loved your post and your philosophy. May print it out and tape it to my refrigerator.

I am so glad to read all these; it's nice to realize I'm not alone!

What I do this time of year is plan/implement some lovely January decor. I always crave a mix of simplicity and coziness this time of year, so it's fun to figure out how to reflect that in a decor sense.

Because I live in the Pacific Northwest and spring is just around the corner, I also start planning the changes I want to make to the garden, and I plan what my full blown spring decor will look like. Pinterest is my friend!