The Post Holiday Blues and You
Overcome post holiday blues with these simple actions. Well, the holidays have come and gone, time to get back into the swing of everyday life. It’s easy to feel a bit ‘offish’ or blue when having to return to the office, especially after an extended few weeks of fun and hoopla. To add insult to injury, you may have gained a few pounds from over indulging, or spent too much money on things unforeseen, and now you’re feeling a little down in the dumps!
Dealing with the back-to-work blues is not that difficult. Here are 8 tips that will help get your spirits back up and your ‘mojo’ firing on all cylinders.
Overcome Post Holiday Blues Quickly and Easily
- Unwind and Relax
Although holidays are fun, they can also be emotionally and financially draining. I recommend taking the time you have left in January to unwind and relax. Stay at home, read a good book, watch a good comedy, have a great glass of wine while relaxing in an aromatic bath. - Listen to music
Music stimulates your senses, fuels your imagination and lifts your spirit. Neuroscientists continually show how music enhances specific neural pathways that are essential for cognitive and emotional health. - Watch what you eat
If your holiday didn’t include much exercise, you may be feeling a little tight in the jeans. Your metabolism had slowed down somewhat and may need a little calibration. Try eating more whole foods, these are foods in their natural form and haven’t been messed around with or processed in any way. Whole fruits, nuts, vegetables, grains, and legumes. Avoid eating too much sugar wherever possible. - Become active
If you aren’t active already, find an activity that will get your blood pumping. Mood-enhancing endorphins are released into the body during aerobic exercises. They will help you feel good. Join a group of people that jog or run for charity or some other cause in your area. - Go somewhere different
Plan a picnic with the family at a place you’ve never been before. Going somewhere where the scenery and views are different is as good as a ‘holiday’. The change in environment is fantastic for your mood and forces your brain to change. Places that are unfamiliar or new activate different parts of your brain and enhance your mood and state. This is a great way to overcome post holiday blues. - Watch your words
The beginning of the New Year nearly always starts off with promises we make to ourselves about the future. Statements like “I must lose weight”, “I have to exercise more”, “I must work harder” place an unconscious urgency and desperation in your life. Rather make a statement like “I’m living healthier this year”, it’s positive, present, and motivational. - Set your goals and work you plan
Setting goals help to inspire, excite and motivate you towards an outcome. Consider the steps that will be needed to achieve your goal. If the goal is big, chunk it down into bite size steps and then re-work your plan. Having goals for the New Year is a sure way to help you overcome post holiday blues. - Keep a gratitude list
The importance of gratitude in life cannot be overemphasized. Nurturing an attitude of ‘thankfulness’ changes our perception of everything around us. Each day write down 5 things you are grateful for, in your health, finances, family etc, and then just say ‘thank you’ and reflect on how glad you are feeling.
We live in a fast-paced world. Holidays are a great way of forcing us to slow down. Applying one of the above tips in your life can help you modulate and create new neural pathways in your brain that will significantly improve your mood.
The above tips are simple and easy to apply and will help you quickly overcome the post holiday blues.