The
post-Christmas period can leave many of us feeling down. Back to work blues, an
empty social calendar, festive weight gain, miserable weather and a dwindling
bank balance can all contribute to a general feeling of melancholy.
Thankfully,
there are many ways to get your spirits back up after the festive period. Here
are our top 10 tips for beating the post-Christmas blues!
Make a plan
After the
excitement of Christmas, going back to the same old routine is enough
to lower anybody’s spirits. A good way to alleviate this feeling is to create
something to look forward to. Depending on your budget and lifestyle, this
could be anything from planning a night out to booking a trip away.
Whatever
your plan, make sure it is something you will really look forward to, and then
start counting down the days.
Exercise your funny bone
Laughter
has been proven to be an extremely effective mood booster; releasing endorphins
which instantly raise spirits and gives a feeling of well-being.
To help
raise your spirits, hang out with friends, grab a funny DVD or book and spend a
few hours exercising your laughter muscles.
Brave your fears
If you
are feeling somewhat uninspired following the Christmas period, there is nothing
guaranteed to energise you as much as stepping out of your comfort zone and
taking a few risks.
Make a
commitment to doing one thing a week that makes you feel scared and takes out
of your comfort zone.
Whether it is something small or big, conquering you fears is guaranteed to put you in a positive mood.
Whether it is something small or big, conquering you fears is guaranteed to put you in a positive mood.
Get active
Although
feeling glum is unlikely to put you in the mood to exercise, getting up and
active is actually one of the best things you can do.
Exercise
not only releases mood boosting endorphins, but if weight gain is one of the things
getting you down following Christmas it will also help you to quickly shift those
excess pounds.
Get out
in the fresh air for run, or try a spot of yoga or Tai Chi to help put you in a
better frame of mind.
Watch what you eat
While it
may be tempting to bury your sorrows under piles of junk food, a healthy diet
is actually much more effective at helping you feel good.
Some
mood-boosting foods to stock up on are those containing B vitamins such as
wholegrains, nuts and marmite, and those containing Omega-3 fatty acids, such
as oily fish or flaxseeds.
Don’t be left out in the cold
If you
think that the darkness and cold weather surrounding the festive season might
be contributing to your blues, you may be one of many people suffering from
seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
If you
find that you feel more depressed or lethargic over the autumn and winter
months, it may be worth investing in a SAD light box which can help reduce the
negative effects caused by the lack of natural light during this season.
Be selfless
If you
find that you are fixated on your mood post-Christmas, it is a good idea to
distract yourself by putting the focus on to others.
Take some
time out to do some volunteer work, or if you are short of time make a
commitment to doing one small act of kindness a day such as listening to a
friend’s problem or smiling at a stranger.
Not only
will helping others distract you from your own feelings but it will help you
put things into perspective.
As an
added bonus, smiling is contagious and helping others feel happy will also put
you in a better mood.
Perk up your social life
Spending
time with others can be one of the greatest mood boosters, but you can’t always
rely on everybody else to make the plans.
If your
social life could do with a boost following Christmas, it’s time to get
proactive.
Pick up
your phone and give someone a call or arrange to visit someone who lives a long
way away. Alternatively, take up a hobby or join a club and start meeting some
new people to spend time with.
Get your finances in order
One of
the reasons many people feel blue after Christmas is because they worry over
their finances – and the damage Christmas has reeked on them – hanging over
their head.
Rather
than worrying about it, sit down and sort out your financial situation.
See what
shape you are in financially and, if necessary, set yourself a budget for the
next few months or so. This may make you feel even worse right now but going on
in ignore means that your worries will only eat away at you.
Face your
finances, work out how to move forward, and then you can move on happier.
Ring the changes
If the
thought of going back to you regular routine is really depressing you, perhaps
you should see this as a sign you need to make some changes.
Although
everyone feels a bit down about returning to work, if the thought is really
make you blue then maybe it’s time to think about changing your job.
Look at
what needs to be changed then make a plan to tackle it in small steps.
Instead
of despairing over the end of Christmas, go in to the new year motivated and
ready to kick-start your best year yet!
Categories: Post Christmas Blues