10 Ways to Beat Post-Holiday Blues and Feel Great Again

10 Ways to Beat Post-Holiday Blues and Feel Great Again

The holiday season can bring so much joy with holiday shopping, Christmas treats and decor, and getting together with family and friends. However, many people find themselves feeling blue even with all the fun. So, what are the post-holiday blues all about, and how do we fix it? Let’s take a look at 10 unique ideas and actionable steps you can take to find joy during and after the holiday season.

What are the post-holiday blues?

Feeling blue, or sad, is a completely normal emotion that alerts you to the fact that something may not be quite right. Around the holiday season, many of us miss loved ones, overwork ourselves and get extra exhausted, or overeat delicious holiday food, resulting in feeling unhealthy. Many factors can contribute to sadness around the holidays. The good news? Once you recognize your emotions, you can take action to beat holiday blues and boost your mood!

10 Ways to Beat Post-Holiday Blues

We often hear how critical self-care is. But, what are some enjoyable ways to actually do this when many of us have little spare time? Here are some of our favorite ways to really beat those nagging holiday blues, many of which you can easily tie into your everyday life.

Schedule time to relax
Don’t ignore your emotions.
Make achievable New Years’ resolutions.
Do something exciting!
Focus on gratitude.
Make healthy choices.
Learn a new hobby.
Go outside.
Make plans with friends and family.
Be kind to yourself.

Keep reading for more about these ideas and realistic tips for prioritizing your happiness!

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1. Schedule Time to Relax

If you’re dealing with post-holiday blues, you may simply need to take the time to relax and recharge. While exciting, many of the activities around the holiday season can be very tiring, especially when we throw work, chores, and errands into the mix. Make it a point to schedule time to relax. This could look like taking a Saturday nap, going to bed half an hour earlier, or grabbing a few self-care items for a DIY spa day. Even just a few minutes to sit back and relax can make a big difference!

2. Don’t Ignore Your Emotions

As we mentioned, it’s completely normal and okay to experience December blues (and even into January). Allow yourself to recognize your emotions. Doing this helps you see that you may need to make some changes to feel like your best self again. Take note of your different emotions and what makes you feel better.

3. Make Achievable New Years’ Resolutions

As we go into a new year, we usually make a list of resolutions. While making a long list of big resolutions can add unnecessary extra stress, achievable New Years’ resolutions can be a good thing. When you’re coming up with New Years’ resolutions, pick a couple of things you know you want to and can achieve. And, make sure whatever you come up with is going to make you happy! Resolutions as simple as staying offline for the first hour of every day and scheduling one self-care day each month can go a long way!

4. Do Something Exciting

When we’re amid all the holiday to-do lists, sometimes we forget to have fun! Find a way to enjoy yourself by doing something new. Do a quick search to find a list like this one for your area and do an activity you’ve never done before. New adventures, even small ones, can be extremely rewarding.

5. Focus on Gratitude

Many people struggle during and after the holidays for very valid reasons like missing loved ones and dealing with financial responsibilities. When times are difficult, it can be easy to focus on the challenges. While it’s important to recognize these difficulties, it can help put things into perspective and tackle post-holiday blues when we focus on gratitude, too. Ideas for practicing daily (or regular) gratitude:

Share your gratitude with others, letting the people around you know why you appreciate them. This is also a great way to strengthen relationships.
Keep a gratitude journal and write down big and small things you’re thankful for each morning, evening, or a specific day of the week. Consistency is key!
Make a point to do something every day that makes you happy.
Volunteer. Helping others, especially around the holidays, can be extremely rewarding.

6. Learn a New Hobby

If you’re someone who loves the holiday season, it can hit hard when this joyful time ends. Learning a new hobby is a great way to find that joy again. This could tie into your New Years’ resolutions, too. Spending time on a hobby also provides a fun way to destress. Finding time for a hobby as an adult is often challenging and sometimes feels impossible to think about. Check out this exciting list of 50 low-cost hobbies, many of which you can easily incorporate into your everyday life!

7. Make Healthy Choices

Have you been enjoying lots of delicious holiday foods and drinks or spending your weekend on the couch watching your favorite Christmas movies? Don’t forget to pair holiday season activities with healthy choices, too! Sometimes a nice, long walk or a healthy meal can give us the boost we need when the blues are hitting hard.

8. Go Outside

There’s a reason we hear so often how important fresh air is! Whether you struggle at coping with the holidays or you’re struggling once the season ends, getting outdoors is always a great way to find some peace. Many studies show how important getting outside is for our overall well-being by lowering cortisol levels, boosting the immune system, and improving mental clarity. Many of us put getting outdoors at the bottom of our to-do list. A few simple ways to incorporate this into a busy day are enjoying our morning coffee outdoors, parking farther away from our destination and taking a longer walk, and stopping at the park in between errands.

9. Make Plans with Friends & Family

Do you find yourself missing the social aspect the holiday season brings? Make a point to hang out with your loved ones as much as possible. You can even combine this with other ideas for beating post-holiday blues on this list. Invite a friend to take a walk in the park, relax at the spa, or do a new activity together.

10. Be Kind To Yourself

If nothing else, be kind to yourself! Feeling sad around or after the holidays is entirely normal. Allow your emotions to flow and treat yourself as you would someone you love who’s working on beating the holiday blues.