Ready to get back to your regular schedule? Are there parts of you feeling overwhelmed, sad, tired, or simply meh? Are your body, heart, and mind not ready to get back into the swing of things? Are you still wanting to engage in fun with family and friends? Need a vacation from your vacation?
In the last few weeks, you have been immersed in various people and events outside your daily quotidian life. Contrary to many mindset and goal coaches, it’s perfectly normal that it is challenging to get right back into productive work mode and normal life.
Holiday Blues. Emotional Hangover.
The time between Thanksgiving and the start of the New Year is the busiest. Even if you love your family, you can be susceptible to an emotional hangover—due to a lot of socializing without recharging and too high or unrealistic expectations that can leave you disappointed.
People tend to go “home” to their family of origin, where they fall back into old family roles and dynamics and sometimes regress because of unresolved issues.
We also fall out of routines. The holidays are usually filled with more alcohol and bad food consumption. We sleep less, our exercise routine decreases, and we even drink less water. This potentially leaves us feeling lethargic, irritable, and disconnected from ourselves.
I always find it challenging to get back to normal after the holidays. Parts of me are tired from holiday negotiations with family and disappointed that something I wanted didn’t happen. Having a birthday during the holidays also does not make things any easier—birthday blues are a real thing for lots of winter babies.
Recovery
Here are five simple ways I have found that work for myself and my clients to recover after holidays blues and emotional hangovers:
- Make sure your take time to recover. Rest. Slow down. Listen to your body—take time for yourself. Refill your tank. Netflix and chill is not a bad way to start your year.
- Allow yourself time to sleep. Studies have shown that going to sleep just 30 minutes for 2-3 days earlier than your regular bedtime helps boosts energy levels and your immune system. Set a reminder to start your bedtime routine earlier for a few days.
- If there are any lingering issues with family, especially after a few years of not being around them, make time to process the holiday by writing in your journal or talking to someone who isn’t a family member. A therapist specializing in relationships can help provide you with better coping skills and space to speak freely about your thoughts and feelings.
- Focus on the positive interactions and good moments you did have. As humans, we tend to focus on negative, painful moments. It’s never all bad.
- Move around. Get up, go outside for some fresh air, stretch your body or take a walk. Moving your body is vital to move any stuck or stagnant energy. Not moving (even if you are tired) is not good for your body, mind, or soul.
No matter what you choose, remember to be gentle with yourself. Use the new year’s energy to reassess what may not have worked in the past and reflect on what will work best for you.
And if you are a fellow Holiday Birthday Baby, you can always celebrate your birthday in late January or early February. I’ve done it, and I have enjoyed celebrating each time.
With loving,
Jacqueline