Beat the Post-Holiday Blues for a Happy, New You

If you feel sad after the holidays and can't understand why, you are not alone. Many people feel down after the festive season, and oftentimes, it comes out of nowhere but let me tell you that it happens to many people.

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There are many reasons why we feel a little blue after Christmas and New Year. One reason is that we tend to be busy when winter begins with holiday parties and get-togethers with family and friends, and we have events to look forward to. Once we are done with New Year's, our calendars can look a little empty, and you may feel bored and isolated.

Many people travel for the holidays, which can bring us so much joy, and goodbyes are always tricky. It's also possible that there was some conflict with a family member that you could easily distract yourself from when you were surrounded by people, and now you are looking back and ruminating. It's possible you weren't where you wanted to be in life when you saw family, and seeing others share their stories made you feel inadequate. Traveling back can be tiring, and you can have low energy from all the hustle and bustle. And it is January when it is cold and dark; it doesn't help as many people tend to stay indoors when it's freezing out. Perhaps you over-celebrated and overindulged in food and drinks, and that can bring about feelings of guilt or weakness.

But here is the thing: whatever happened is all in the past and now is a time for new beginnings. With these helpful tips, you can rewrite your story and chapter and look forward to brighter things.

Appreciate the holidays

There is always something that goes wrong when family members come together. It could be that the roast wasn't cooked right, or you have conflicting political beliefs, but above all, that is the time you did spend with your family. Think of the laughter and happiness you felt when you saw them and the wonderful memories you made.

Try solo activities

There has to be something you wanted to do and try that you didn't because you couldn't find someone to join you or were worried what others would think.

Empowering and Easy Tips to Overcome the Post-Christmas Lull.

This is the time to do it, whether it is going to your local museum that you have wanted to go to for years but never made it. Learning a new language or a musical instrument to completing that puzzle. It's your time to invest in something that always intrigued you.

Get active

January is the busiest time to join the gym due to New Year's resolutions, and now is as amazing of a time as any to kickstart or continue your health journey. You don't have to join the gym; you can sign up for an online yoga membership, promise yourself daily 15-minute AM walks, or take that dance class. Movement is medicine for the body, and moving your body will make your body and your mind feel better; it's guaranteed. So what if you ate cake every day for a week? Remember how happy that made you? Now you can make your body happy and healthy by starting or continuing an exercise routine because the human body loves routine

Schedule regular calls with family and friends

Getting back to real life can make us forget to set time aside for family and friends due to jobs and responsibilities because everyone has them. Scheduling weekly or biweekly phone calls or video calls with friends and family is a great way to look forward to staying connected, and hearing their voices (or seeing their faces) will brighten your day.

Be kind to yourself

It's easy to look back and think of all the things we didn't accomplish but try to change your outlook and write down all the things you did accomplish in the last year and all the new goals you have for the coming year. They don't have to be huge, but they should be small attainable goals that you can turn your day around.