Managing Post-Holiday Mental Health

Have you been feeling out of it after the holiday season? Well, you’re not alone. Studies show that 3 in 5 people report negative mental health impacts from the holiday season. This is often due to financial pressures, family issues, loneliness, and disrupted routines. It’s hard to get back in the swing of things because of this and that can have a huge impact on our mental health. But, the good news is that there are ways to manage it and support our mental health during this time. They include:

• Get out of the house

• Connect with People

• Get some Exercise

• Rebuild Gentle Structure/Routine

• Set Realistic Goals

Get out of the House

Even just 5-10 minutes a day breathing fresh air or feeling sunlight on your face can put you in a better mood and reduce stress as well as improve your focus and enhance your immune function. If it’s a cloudy day, it still works. Just being in the fresh air is proven to lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone).

Connect with People

Connection with others creates a sense of belonging and increases longevity. It is easy to feel lonely after the holidays, especially if your house was full of family. Make an effort to reach out to those that you enjoy being around and talking to. If you can’t make it out of the house, even a 5 minute phone call can lift your spirits.

Get some Exercise

Moving your body has positive effects on your mental health, as well as your physical health. Daily exercise helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Exercise also improves memory, focus, and enhances self-esteem. Plus, for multi-tasking wellness, going to the gym also gets you out of the house and can lead to social connection.

Rebuild Gentle Structure

The easiest way to rebuild our routine is by taking small, consistent steps. Integrating healthy habits into already existing routines is helpful. Creating a schedule that includes time for self-care and prioritizes diet and physical health supports sticking to routines without burning out.

Set Realistic Goals

Setting goals that are achievable prevents feelings of overwhelm and helps us maintain motivation through small wins. This helps in building sustainable healthy habits rather than trying to be perfect in everything that we do. If we aim for unrealistic goals, the pressure we create can cause us to burnout. A gradual, more realistic approach opens the door for us to be kind to ourselves and focuses on achievable steps to get us back on track.

Don’t beat yourself up for feeling unmotivated or just ‘off ’ in general after the holiday season. Remember that managing your post-holiday mental health takes time and practice, and that it’s okay to take a mental reset every once in a while. What’s important is prioritizing your mental health in these moments by taking small, consistent action that fuels your overall wellness.