Some people love the beginning of the new year and feel motivated with a plan of action to start off on the right foot, but for some of us it’s just the opposite.

Post-holiday blues can be triggered by a number of things.  Below are some of the most common reasons people feel sad or generally unmotivated after the holidays:

• Trying to do too much during the holidays makes us exhausted: cooking, cleaning, decorating, shopping, traveling, organizing parties, attending parties, and just overall spreading ourselves too thin. It can be exhausting. As soon as the holidays are over it can be hard to transition back into business as usual right away with no down time. You may actually miss all the hustle and bustle and visiting with family and friends, especially if some of them live far away from you.
• You may feel sad over lingering family issues or loss of loved ones. After the holidays, when you have time to look back and evaluate what happened during family gatherings, you may realize that some parts of it upset you. January can be a time of reflection and that isn’t always easy.
• Sickness during the holiday season can definitely take a toll, especially when you are already exhausted from all the other things going on. When sickness lingers well into January that can definitely contribute to low motivation.
• Gaining weight over the holidays can be disappointing. We are surrounded by rich and decadent foods, we eat more simple carbohydrates and sugar than usual, and we often increase our alcohol intake, all while spending less time engaged in physical activity (especially outdoors). This can take a big toll on our energy levels.
• Not to mention, it’s DARK! Decreasing periods of sunlight also add to the post-holiday blues. In November, when we really notice that daylight is shifting into the night sky, we are beginning the preparations for family gatherings and keeping so busy with the holiday bustle that it doesn’t take as much as a toll as it does after the holidays are over and we are more still. Spring seems too far away!

SO, WHAT DO WE DO??

We need to gain our energy back! Yes Spring seems far, but time flies and we CAN do it!  The first step is awareness. After reading all the points above we realize yes, these things are true, and they are happening or did happen to us. Take a moment to reflect on these points. If it’s about family issues maybe we need more than a moment to reflect. Now without overwhelming ourselves, as we did over the holidays, we need to make a plan to overcome these difficulties. BABY STEPS! 

Start slow. What’s one really healthy go-to meal you love? Plan on that for tomorrow. People often trick themselves into thinking they have to dive right back in all at once. Just start with one really healthy meal. Maybe try to save some leftovers so you can have more later. After that, think of another healthy meal you like for the next day. This can get the ball rolling.

Keep it simple. Do an easy simple activity without expectations. If it’s been weeks since you’ve done physical activity, choose something small that takes only ten minutes and just do it. There are plenty of things you can do at home that take only 10 minutes: squats, push-ups, bands, jumping jacks, planks. Plan another ten minutes for tomorrow. Work up a small sweat. Just see how you feel after these two exercises, maybe by next week you’ll feel up to doing more.

Prioritize sleep. Our sleep cycles can get out of whack when we’re so busy. What’s your normal bedtime? Start winding down about an hour beforehand. Try a calming herbal tea and some light reading. Recreate your bedtime routine to something you find relaxing and soothing.

Boost Your Immune System. Good nutrition with fruits and vegetables combined with physical activity and a good night’s sleep will help with this, but it never hurts to supplement with vitamins or your favorite OTC immune system booster, regular hand washing and using hand sanitizer.

Limit or abstain from alcohol. Over doing it with alcohol can decrease immunity and hinder a good night’s sleep. If you have been overindulging, it’s time to take a good look at your habits and reduce your use down to moderation or abstinence. “Dry January” is a great time to do this! It doesn’t matter if you didn’t start right on January 1^st or 2nd, you still have the rest of January or as long as you want!

Stay Hydrated. Doctors recommend we drink about eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy. Water helps the kidneys function properly and flushes out the toxins that accumulate in our bodies. Keep drinking your water.