How to Cope With The Post-holiday Blues

After all the excitement at Christmas and New Year, a feeling of sadness known as the “post-holiday blues” is a natural emotion that some people experience. Even though many get post-holiday sadness after the festive season, it doesn’t mean you can’t do something to help you feel better.

Here are four easy ways to help you go back to normal and cope with the post-holiday blues:

1. Be gentle on yourself
   Getting back to your normal routine or starting your new year’s resolutions after the holidays may be challenging, making us feel anxious and glum. To take some of the pressure off, try not to be so hard on yourself as this can cause many people to fail in sticking to their goals. Instead of trying to suddenly change something in your life, start small and gradually improve with time. Whether it is exercising, diet or other activities, you can break your resolutions or challenges down into smaller chunks, so when it’s time to get back to your usual routine you won’t feel so overwhelmed.
   
2. Make healthy choices
   Being active and eating more healthily can help improve your mood, here are some examples of small steps you can take each day:
   • Start the day off with a healthy breakfast
   • Include at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables in your meal
   • Swap snacks like biscuits and chocolate for healthier options like fruit and nuts
   • Drink plenty of water throughout the day
   • Go for regular, short walks
   • Walk or cycle instead of taking the car
3. Try something new
   Once the festive period is over, your normal routine may not feel as exciting, but you could try something different to keep the excitement alive.  Whether it is a new hobby, a new place you want to visit,  food that you never had before or meeting new people, a new experience can break the monotony and stimulate you intellectually, emotionally, or physically. Not only would this improve your mood, but it will also help you see things from a new perspective and be more creative in the long run.
4. Get your finances in order
   December can be a particularly expensive month, so rather than ignoring your bank statements and feeling anxious about the future, face your financial situation and plan ahead for the new year. You can set spending budgets for the next few months and make plans to cover you for unexpected outgoings.

Making these conscious little changes can help you get off to a better and healthier new year. However, if you are struggling and experiencing irritability, lack of energy and sleeping difficulties, make sure to check in with your GP.

You should also consider taking out some protection in the event that you fall seriously ill. Protecting your health with a private medical insurance policy allows you to skip NHS waiting queues and get treatment when you need it.