Thanksgiving has come and gone and the hustle and bustle of Christmas is now behind us. For some people the holidays can leave them feeling down.
For others it can be somewhat tough to get back into the swing of things and their regular routines. Whether you have the after holiday blues or need a post holiday nudge to get you back on track you've come to the right place. Here are 7 Tips to help you reduce stress after the holidays.
Get Outside and catch some fresh air
Whether the temperatures in your area are nice and sunny or a little dark and cold , dress accordingly and get outdoors and go for a walk. Take a hike,
find a nice trail or path, simply enjoy nature and take in the scenery. Studies show that there are many benefits of walking not to mention it's definitely a mood booster too.
2. Don't Neglect Your Self Care
During the holidays we can get so caught up in work, decorating for the holidays, company parties, gift giving , school plays, baking holiday goodies and doing so much for others that our own self-care easily gets put aside. Now is the time to take care of you and put yourself first. Treat yourself, Set some boundaries, Disconnect from the world for a day or a few hours if you can, Do something you enjoy, read a book, binge watching your favorite show, get creative and try a new hobby you've been wanting to try. Simply put, take care of you.
3. Think About The Goals You Want To Set In The New Year.
Now is the perfect time to reevaluate all of the goals you set for yourself this year and make some new ones for the upcoming year. Think about how you will accomplish these goals. Will you write them down in a planner? will you create a vision board? will you share them with an accountability partner? How do you plan to start the new year strong to ensure that you have a successful year and accomplish everything you plan to.
4. Rest Up
After it's all said done let's face it, the holidays can leave us downright exhausted, lets not forget that for those of us who did not use up our PTO during the holidays work is still a factor, along with the commute to and from work, along with our regular adulting responsibilities. Phew that itself is tiring which is why getting an adequate amount of sleep is important. If you're normal sleep patterns have been interrupted try listening to a guided meditation app such as Calm or Headspace before bed, ditch the cell phone about an hour prior to bed and invest in a weighted blanket (you can thank me later).
5. Create A Budget And Stick to It.
As much as we may not want to admit it, sometimes the holidays can put a deep dent in our finances. Even if we set aside a certain amount to spend, we all know how easy it is to neglect our budget and overspend. If you realized that your bank account took somewhat of a hit, now is not the time to beat yourself up, just know that now is the time to cutback on unnecessary spending and create some strict boundaries with your finances. Find ways to cut costs without making significant changes to your day to day lifestyle. A few days out of the week, pack your lunch instead of ordering take out, In my case its going to Starbucks once or twice a week as opposed to 4 or 5 or 6 times a week (Don't you dare judge me either LOL ). You get the point.
6. Meditate/Take A Yoga Class/Practice Your Breathing Techniques
Meditation and Yoga is known to reduce stress and anxiety, alleviate depression and also improving sleeping habits. Practicing 1 or 2 minute breathing techniques throughout the day also reduces stress by increasing your oxygen flow which reduces your blood pressure and also reduces anxiety as well. In other words, relax, relate, release, WOOSAHHH!!
7. Practice Letting Go Of The Things you Cannot Control
I know I know, It's easier said than done, TRUST me I know. Everyday life comes at us quick and sometimes we do not have time to prepare for the curveballs that it throws us. Stressing about certain things is human nature, but we all know that stressing over certain situations does not change the outcome, if anything it leaves us feeling hopeless and anxious. Sometimes we have to go with the flow and hope and pray that the outcome works in our favor the way we want it to. I love to advise people to do your very best and don't stress the rest.