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We all know that the holidays are supposed to be festive, joyous, a time to be with loved ones, and even an excuse to work less and have a break from work. But why is it so common to develop a cold, the flu, or other maladies after the holidays are over? After all, isn't it common knowledge that relaxation and good times are the medicine the body needs? It is true that the holidays can be stressful, and it is well known that stress is associated with making us more vulnerable to illness. But why should positive and happy times be associated with illness?
The Let Down Effect which explains why we become ill after periods of stress, can also clarify how this happens during the good times in our lives. The Let Down Effect is a condition where high energy or activation levels in the body are immediately followed by a rapid drop in activation levels. This is comparable to a speeding car coming to a sudden, screeching halt. The final result is an immune system that has been down regulated or compromised, leaving the body open to illness. It would not seem surprising if after burning the midnight oil for weeks that we would develop a cold or the flu after abruptly taking a holiday respite. Yet once the good times have finished rolling, and have come and gone, we can be equally as susceptible to the Let Down Effect.
To guard against the Let Down Effect and post holiday illness, consider "cooling down" gradually. We implicitly accept the value of cooling down after exercise, and this is equally important in fending off the holiday let down. Instead of jumping back into the work mode after your high activation festivities or celebrations, consider scheduling a low key fun day. Let Down Blocking techniques can also be helpful by slowing the pace of the let down while boosting the body's immune response. Short bursts of exercise (even a five minute duration), a friendly game of scrabble, chess, cards, or Rummikub (rummy cube) with time constraints can also block the impending Let Down Effect.
