Essential Guide to Dealing with Post-Holiday Blues
Let’s beat the holiday blues!
Today’s post was written by the lovely Zara Lewis. We first heard from Zara back in November of 2016 when she shared Best sport activities to strengthen the family bonds. Zara is a mother of two, designer and promoter of healthy living. She enjoys hiking, cycling yoga and cooking. You can read more of Zara’s great tips at High Style Life where she is a regular contributor. You can also follow her on twitter. I am honored to have her share her helpful tips here on shortsweetmom.
The Holiday season must be the happiest time of year, when everything is cheerful and everyone is around.
At moments, the glittery, colorful Christmas lights twinkle like little rays of hope and we are lead to believe that – at Christmas and beyond, everything is possible. However, once the holidays are over we’re back to our regular lives not many are happy with. It’s not that we’re leading dull everyday lives, far from; it’s more that – we get so cozied up in the blissful holiday spirit that, for a second, we forget how plain a life can be with no Christmas lights and hot cocoa to warm the soul.Good news though is that you are not alone, feeling blue post-holidays; we’ve all been there so many times (and, seemingly, always) that we’re learned to live with it (and master it), by now.Here, a simple and very effective guide crafted on experience for all of you who are looking to undo your holiday blues and unplug Chat Baker’s “Not For Me” immediately (not that Baker’s not good, but he can ooze the blues).
Perk up your social life
We all love spending time on our own from time to time but getting way too comfortable with it may get infectious for the soul. Instead of turning your alone time into loneliness, perk up your social calendar and make sure you see as many people as possible. Naturally, chose to see those you actually love spending time with and you’ll be good. Spending time with people whose presence lifts your spirits is an amazing mood booster, so it’s something worth investing in. Still, don’t always rely on someone else to make the plans; pick up the phone and give someone a call or be the one to initiate an outing. If you don’t feel like going out, even a chill day/night at home with that friend can be amazing!
Make those changes, already
You know all those little changes you’ve been penning down for months, promising yourself you’ll introduce them into your life the moment holidays are over? Well, start making those changes! The moment you do, you’ll feel distracted from holiday blues, you’ll feel motivated and you’ll do something wonderful for yourself. Don’t delay your self-improvement. Brave your fears and decisions, love yourself first.
Embrace therapy
If you feel like holiday time is just a trigger for some of your deeper issues and fears, maybe it’s time you’ve embraced therapy. There’s nothing shameful about wanting to help yourself, and there’s no better time to do it than the present.
Give power to family
Family is our core, our strength and the point of return no matter if things are good or bad; family comes first and it’s the thing keeping us alive (sorry if that resonates Godfather too much).
Grab your little ones and go out to play their favorite games! If you prefer staying indoors, there’s a plenty things you can do: make an indoor picnic, build tents from old sheets, make a trampoline out of mattress on sale, read stories masked up in your kids’ favorite characters, watch movies… For those of you who don’t have kids, bond with your inner and extended family and their kids; go to lunches together, organize a little barbecue, coffee and cake, chit-chat gatherings… build a circle of people that will always love you while at the same time making wonderful memories.
Indulge yourself
A little self-indulgence can go a long way, especially after the holidays. If you feel like your body hasn’t been at your best, start going to the gym again or take up a sport that motivates you. Make appointments at the hair dresser, book massages and spa days, go for mani-pedis, shop for books, clothes, interior elements… anything that you know makes you happy. Picking up a hobby like painting, writing, yoga, design… or anything you know fills your soul with happiness may be very beneficial, too. Hey, and – travel! Alone or with someone, make sure you go around the country or out of the state (there are plenty of amazing deals these days) and you will see yourself blossom!
In the upcoming days, make a list of all things you love about yourself and your life, and say your blessings. Then, turn to our advice for an extra nudge in the right direction – you’ll see how amazing everything will turn out!
Do you find yourself feeling a bit blue after the holidays have ended? What are some of your favorite ways to get over the slump?
This post can also be found on the Simply Every Mom Life Monday Blog Link up.