The Party's Over.

AFTER ALL THE HYPE, IT'S TOUGH TO GO BACK TO WORK

IT'S back to work -- ugh.

No more Y2K hobgoblins, 24-hour news coverage or millennium blow-outs. No end-of-the-world scenarios or 20th century reflections.

It's the first week of January and if you're reading this, chances are good that all is right with the world.

But now what?

Some sense of letdown always accompanies the end of the holidays. But this year, the new millennium added even more potential for disappointment, psychologists say.

"We need markers to mark these events in the human condition, but it always comes back down to the same thing," said Ian Mitroff, a professor at USC's Marshall School of Business and author of "A Spiritual Audit of Corporate America." "The calendar rolls over and you're into the next millennium and now what? You're back to all the same difficult issues you did or didn't confront before."

But introspection is a luxury most cannot afford.

"We were closed for a week, and my clients require a lot of attention," moaned Rori Nicole Wilson, a designer at Soolip Paperie & Press in Silver Lake, which doesn't reopen until Jan. 5. "There will be a stack of faxes, needy clients, and I've lost a week of production time. Even though I've explained to people that we would be closed, they'll still expect their orders to be ready on the fifth."

Trader Joe's marketing Vice President Pat St. John said she is gearing up for the traditional January business, which moves from party fare to diet foods. "For me personally, I doubt there will be much of a change," St. John said.

2000 no big deal

Indeed, psychologists say such sentiments represent a shift in attitudes. After years of making and breaking resolutions, folks have come to realize that nothing of much significance really happens with the change of the calendar -- even if it's 1999 turning into 2000.

"It's such a feeble guideline, and of course the experience is that people are no better at meeting New Year's resolutions than at any other time of year," said Irving Biederman, a professor of neuroscience at USC's department of psychology.

Others were less concerned about resolutions and more about the workload they'll find upon their return.

"I was so worried that I went in and sneaked a look at my desk when I was in the neighborhood," conceded Julian Dillon, director of development for Jagged Films in L.A. "But not much had changed since before Christmas. If I'm off for a week and everyone else is working, that's a nightmare, because my desk just piles up with work. But everyone else was off this Week, so I think I'm OK."

Others have not been so lucky.

"I've got an incredible list of things I've got to do in January," said Adolfo Nodal, general manager of the L.A Department of Cultural Affairs. The executive producer of Celebrate L.A. 2000, has been working full tilt for months to put on the city's five New Year's parties. "There's so much stuff I've had to put on hold to get this thing together, that there's a million other things I want to get done. I'm not even taking a vacation until March or April."

Time to make money

The Democratic National Convention looms on the horizon, bringing with it a host of new business opportunities. Tech companies are jockeying for investment dollars. Even retailers, who normally experience a slowdown in business over January, expect sales to be stronger than usual.

"It's not going to be December or November, but it will certainly kick the stuffing out of last year's January," said Richard Giss, a partner with the retail services group of Deloitte & Touche LLP. "What you're seeing right now is a little bit of conspicuous consumption starting to creep its way back in."

At Century City Shopping Center, marketing manager Janet LaFevre said she barely has time to catch a breath as she begins work on a host of objectives being set by the mall's new owners, Urban Retail Properties Co. First on her list is preparing for the Democratic Convention and the tourism it is expected to bring. "One of our initiatives is to market to that group," LaFevre said.

But as of late last week, many Angelenos were still basking in leisurely pursuits.

"I've definitely enjoyed just bumming around -- watering plants, skateboarding," said Adrian Arellano, a teacher at John Marshall High School. "I'm going surfing tomorrow to get in the last waves before the new millennium.

The thought of reporting back to school makes Arellano wistful.

"I'll miss watching movies, reading. You don't have time to do those kinds of things when you're not on vacation," he said. "I will most definitely miss going out mid-week. I have to get up at 5:30 in the morning when school is in."

At least Arellano is luckier than most. He has a short work stint before an even longer break. "I'm getting ready for winding down in February," he said. "I'm on a track which goes in two-month increments. My real vacation starts in March."

'Sleeping a lot'

While Arellano has been busy, others were far less ambitious during the holidays.

"I've been sleeping a lot since Christmas," said designer Wilson. "The holiday season comprises the bulk of our sales, so I was working 10-hour days up until then. This week, I cleaned my house, hauled my Christmas tree out to the curb, and have been half-heartedly looking for a dog to adopt. I'm also detoxifying from spending Christmas with my family."

Even those who were working last week expressed a sense of dread about business as usual returning this week.

"Commuting during the holidays has been unbelievable," said Cam Currier, press deputy for L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich. "I've had to hit the brakes on the Pasadena Freeway to keep my speed down. I felt like we didn't have a transportation problem in the city."

Tohid Naeem, an office worker at Cushman & Wakefield Inc., said "it was very, very hard to come back to work." He had spent the week before Christmas "running around, hitting parties -- Hollywood, Santa Monica, the beach," as he entertained guests from Japan.

"It's always hard to come back after you let loose," Naeem said. "I told (my bosses) that they should give me off until January 15."

While Naeem was joking, he says, others are already longing for the next break in the action. "On Monday, I will just continue business as usual," said Dillon. "I think the hardest part will be not thinking about President's Day."