Holidays are over! Back to work, back to school, back to your daily routine. In today’s article, we look at the meaning of post holiday blues, its signs and symptoms, how to overcome post holiday blues with easy ways to incorporate the tips given. Lets dig in!
The above image perfectly describes my thought yesterday! I was this close to messaging my boss asking for one more day….how is the holiday over? why do I have to resume work now? Ughhhh what a bummer. So, dearest gentle readers, my fellow post holiday blued adults; this is the reality, we are back to work and we need all the help and support we can get. Let us dive in and see how best we can overcome this together.
What Is Post Holiday Blues?
The post holiday blues refers to the feelings of sadness, disappointment, or even anxiety that some people experience after the holiday season.
If you find yourself feeling a little down after the holidays, you may be experiencing the post holiday blues. The post holiday blues are a short-term, low mood that happens after festivities and holidays. They are caused by the contrast between holiday festivity and everyday life, or from not having enough time to recuperate from the activities of holiday events before returning to your normal routine.
It’s completely normal to experience a bit of post holiday blues. After all, who doesn’t miss relaxing or exploring new cities or hanging out with friends and family?
What it feels like:
- Sadness: A general sense of sadness or melancholy.
- Lethargy: Feeling tired, sluggish, and lacking motivation.
- Anxiety: Increased worry or anxiety about returning to daily routines.
- Disappointment: Feeling let down that the holiday season is over.
- Loneliness: Feeling isolated or disconnected from others.
What causes post holiday blues
A number of factors can cause one to have the blues:
- Shift in Routine: The abrupt return to normal life after the relaxed holiday pace can be upsetting.
- Social Pressure: The pressure to have a “perfect” holiday, often amplified by social media, can lead to disappointment and unrealistic expectations.
- Financial Strain: Holiday expenses can create financial stress and contribute to feelings of anxiety.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): For some, the post-holiday blues may be exacerbated by the shorter days and reduced sunlight associated with winter.
- Disrupted Sleep: Irregular sleep schedules during the holidays can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to fatigue and mood disturbances.
- Overindulgence: Excessive consumption of food, alcohol, and caffeine during the holidays can negatively impact physical and mental well-being.
The disturbance of usual routines, such as sleep schedules and food habits, during the holiday season can be problematic. Overindulgence in food and alcohol, combined with late evenings and interrupted sleep patterns, can cause physical and mental. emotional exhaustion. These lifestyle changes might cause hormonal changes that contribute to mood swings and feelings of lethargy.
Post Holiday Blues Symptoms
You may temporarily lose interest in non-holiday activities, feel less invested at work, or be overwhelmed or unimpressed by daily life. These signs and symptoms are totally normal when returning to your daily life after the holidays, and they normally pass after a short period of time.
- Feeling unmotivated
- Having increased anxiety
- Experiencing concerns about money
- Having trouble sleeping
- Not wanting to do normal activities with family or friends
- Engaging less enthusiastically in your job or hobbies
- Feeling overwhelmed or underwhelmed
- Having more trouble concentrating than before the holidays
- Finding it harder to get back into the swing of everyday life
- Dwelling on missing holiday experiences and family
Others include:
- Stress/Irritability: Stress can show as a general feeling of tension or unease, which usually comes with irritability and worry. Stress may also come with headaches, stiff muscles, exhaustion, and difficulties sleeping. After the holidays, you may feel more stressed than usual as you try recover from fast-paced social engagements/gatherings, travel, and the holidays expenditures. Irritability might make you feel on edge, causing you to become angry or upset more easily or to be bothered by things that would not typically affect you. It’s understandable that you’d be angry after the holidays, given how stressful and exhausting the experience was and how quickly you’ll have to return to your busy, regular schedule.
- Worry/Sadness: When you worry, you may become preoccupied with negative thoughts or potential difficulties. Worrying is a natural response that helps you prepare for prospective problems. Worrying is not the same as severe anxiety, and it should not cause physical symptoms or interfere with daily life. However, it is common to find yourself concerned about returning to work, holiday expenses, or New Year’s resolutions. Sadness is a normal feeling that you may have after the holidays, and it may show up with other symptoms, like crying or feeling irritable. Sadness can make everyday tasks less enjoyable and cause you to feel alone even in social situations. After the holidays, you may experience sadness more often for a little bit because of the contrast between your everyday life and the holiday period.
- Emptiness/Loneliness: Emptiness can make you feel as if you’re missing something crucial in your life. You may feel numb, disconnected, or as if something important is missing. This emotion is especially powerful after the holidays, when you get to spend time with friends and family and get away from your usual routine. It’s understandable that returning to normal life after the holidays may leave you feeling empty. Loneliness can occur even when you are around others and is often described as a feeling of being apart, disconnected, or detached from other people. It makes sense why you might be feeling more lonely after the connectedness of the holidays, especially if you live farther away from your family or if you have difficult family dynamics. It is also not uncommon if you experienced loneliness during the holidays for it to intensify when you return to your everyday life.
How To Overcome Post Holiday Blues
While not considered clinical depression, the same skills that help people improve their mood when depressed will help individuals experiencing post-holiday blues. Recovering from the post-holiday blues can take a little time, but there are things that you can do to start to feel better as you start a new year. Self-care and other strategies can help you better cope with your post-holiday blues. Don’t forget you can also reach out to a therapist or other professional if you need more support.
1. Acknowledge and Accept: The first step in healing is to acknowledge the presence of these emotions. Dismissing or disregarding these emotions could hinder the healing process. Instead, accept that you’re having a low mood, which is totally normal.
2. Prioritize Self-Care:
- Gradually ease back into your regular routine: Avoid overwhelming yourself with immediate commitments. Start with small, achievable goals and gradually increase your workload.
- Engage in regular physical activity: such as brisk walking, yoga, or dancing. Exercise stimulates the release of endorphins, natural mood boosters that can combat feelings of sadness and fatigue. Exercise can benefit your mental health, improve your general mood, and could help lessen the effects of stress, anxiety, depression, and the blues. According to health.harvard.edu and mentalhealth.org.uk, even a short walk or a quick workout can do wonders for your mood and energy levels. Plus, it’s a great way to get back into your regular routine.
- Nourish Your Body: Focus on nourishing your body with whole, unprocessed foods. Gradually reintroduce healthy eating habits while avoiding extreme dietary restrictions.
- Prioritize Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. Establish a relaxing bedtime routine that includes a warm bath, reading, or listening to calming music.
- Hydration: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated and support overall well-being.
3. Reconnect with Loved Ones:
- Spend quality time with friends and family. Social interaction can combat feelings of loneliness and isolation. Engage in meaningful conversations, share your feelings, and offer support to others.
- Practice gratitude by acknowledging and appreciating the positive experiences and relationships in your life. Keeping a gratitude journal can be a helpful tool in cultivating a more positive outlook.
4. Mindful Practices for Emotional Well-being:
- Mindfulness and Meditation: Engage in mindfulness practices such as meditation or deep breathing exercises to calm the mind and reduce anxiety.
- Spend Time in Nature: Connect with nature by spending time outdoors. Nature has a calming effect on the mind and can help reduce stress and improve mood.
5. Set Realistic Expectations:
- Lower the Bar: Avoid setting unrealistic expectations for yourself in the immediate aftermath of the holidays.
- Embrace Imperfection: Accept that things won’t always go according to plan. Focus on progress, not perfection, and celebrate small victories.
6. Seek Professional Support: If the blues linger or you suspect you’re suffering something more serious than temporary blues after the holidays, you might want to see a therapist. Know you are not alone. Post holiday blues can range from disappointment and emptiness to lack of motivation and feelings of slight depression. But if these feelings persist, it might be something else. Therapy can provide additional tools and tactics to help you manage more successfully with the post-holiday blues or decide if you are suffering from depression or another mental health issue.
Online directories for therapists are helpful because they give you access to many professionals who could meet your needs and allow you to sort your results using various factors. When looking for a therapist for feeling down, mood swings, feeling withdrawn, and other mood-related concerns, you will want to sort by related specialties, such as depression or mood disorders, along with your location and insurance, if applicable.
I am rooting for you! Good luck to us!
