How To Curb Those Post-Holiday Blues

The few weeks immediately after the end-of-year holiday season can often feel a little more blue than normal. The excitement of the holidays and the New Year, along with the busy schedules, cheery spirits and a much-needed break from routine ends rather sharply and suddenly for many of us, and soon it’s back to the real world and another whole year of work, work, work. 

It’s no wonder that the post-holiday season blues are a real thing for so many people every year. Especially after the less-than-stellar year 2020 has given us. So what can we do to recognize these blues and avoid falling into the funk? 

What are the post-holiday blues?

Before we get started, it’s important to understand what, exactly, these so-called post-holiday blues are. 

To put it simply, the post-holiday blues can follow any period of time where you are experiencing high stress and emotion. That could mean Hanukkah, Christmas, a long vacation or even a wedding! 

After these intense periods of time where we experience heightened emotions, a busier schedule or even extreme joy, we fall into a slump when our lives have to go back to normal. 

You know the feeling you get when you go back to work after an awesome weekend? Well, post-holiday blues are like the Monday blues, but this Monday is a month long. 

What can cause these blues?

So, why do we feel so sad after the holidays? Even if our holidays were full of joy and happiness, we can still feel sad more sad than usual when it’s all over. Here are some scenarios that could cause heightened emotion or stress, even when it’s perceived as good.

Busy schedules

Not counting this year, of course, the holidays usually involve busy calendars with plenty of social events and travel. It’s GO, GO, GO all the time, especially for those with large families and social circles. This excitement, while fun and enjoyable, can be quite draining, and when it’s suddenly over, it can feel pretty lonely. 

Family

Family can sometimes cause stress. I know — surprise, surprise. 

Whatever our relationships with our family are, we always leave with a variety of mixed feelings. We could feel sad to leave them, or we could feel relief. We might feel disappointed with our own relationships, we may experience loneliness when mourning the loss of loved ones and we may even feel great joy when meeting new family members. 

All these emotions, whether positive or negative, leave us emotionally drained. 

Vacation

Having a break from the monotony of the work and school year is a great thing for many of us. We have a chance to relax, to release the tension of our daily lives and shift our focus to something else. 

However, getting back into that monotonous routine is so much harder after a long vacation, especially one that’s busy and exciting. 

Upon returning to work, you may find piles of paperwork, hundreds of unread emails and enough voicemails to make you consider relocating to a deserted island. If reading makes you feel stressed, then you can see why the end of a holiday can cause periods of stress, anxiety and depression. 

Overindulgence

Too much of a good thing isn’t always good. Why do you think 12% of gym members join in January? Changes in diet and inadequate sleep patterns can contribute to mood changes and can impact physical well-being. 

How to manage those blues

Sleep & eat well

Getting adequate amounts of sleep each night can do wonders for your body and mind, as can a diet full of nutrients and vitamins. If you’re well-rested, you become more productive, more focused and will even feel healthier! Giving your body the adequate type of energy and nutrients through a balanced diet will make you feel so much better. 

Make sure to get into a set schedule, too, so that your body becomes used to the routine.

Set SMART goals

There’s a lot of talk about new year resolutions, but if you don’t set your goals up to be within your grasp, then you’ll burn out quickly. Here’s our comprehensive article on how you can set your goals up to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. By giving yourself goals that you can realistically work toward, you will feel more accomplished and will keep yourself busy. 

Go easy on yourself

If you have a hard time getting back into the swing of things, don’t beat yourself up. Sometimes it takes time to get back into your normal routine. 

Make sure to make time for yourself as you work to catch up on work, whether that’s reading a book, working out, cooking or whatever hobbies you like to do for fun. If you set yourself a schedule that is too strict, then it will be harder to stick to it. 

Stay connected & supported 

If you’re experiencing loneliness due to the loss of a loved one or through separation from your family, then find ways to stay connected with people who can support you. This can mean setting up a weekly video call with your parents, calling a friend every day or even talking to a therapist or counselor. 

The holidays can bring up a lot of very raw emotion, and when the holidays end you shouldn’t have to carry that weight the rest of the year without help. There are people around you who love and care for you, and maybe you could be that person for someone else. 

Redecorate

This may seem a little trivial, but feeling comfortable in your surroundings can make a huge difference in your overall happiness and well-being. 

Maybe you need to do a post-holidays clutter purge, or maybe you have some new artwork to display on the walls. Maybe now’s the time to try your hand at caring for indoor plants or completely revamp your indoor décor altogether. It’s amazing what a big difference a fresh style can make, especially during the winter months.

All in all

You know yourself best, and you know best what YOU need to get through the holiday blues. Try out some new hobbies, volunteer somewhere or start a new morning routine — whatever you do, be open to new ideas and you’ll be surprised with the positive changes you’ll start to feel in your mood. 

Good luck, and happy New Year!

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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/mrsemilyhopper