I don’t know about you, but as much as I love the New Year, I always struggle with a bit of post-holiday blues every January. I’ve talked to so many of you who told me you have the same issue once the holiday decorations start coming down, so I decided to offer a few tips on getting past the post-holiday slump.

Prioritize Self-Care

Whenever I’m feeling in a rut, I notice that I put my self-care routines to the wayside. I’m way more on top of it whenever I feel great. But the times when we may not feel our best are actually when we can benefit most from self-care. This doesn’t mean you need to go out and book a spa day, but small things can help, like getting 8 hours of sleep, drinking enough water, moving your body, and protecting your time where needed so you don’t exhaust yourself.

Create a Routine

Between all of the vacation days and get-togethers, it can be tough to stick to your routine during the holiday season. I know personally, the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is basically a blur to me. I typically sleep in, stay up too late, and I don’t even want to talk about how my house looks during that time! But when you’re returning to your normal day-to-day life, it’s a good idea to get back into your normal routine. Set a goal to cook a few meals at home or work out a couple of days, and you’ll start feeling back to your old self in no time!

Set a Holiday Budget

One thing that can cause a lot of people to spiral into post-holiday blues is spending too much during the holidays and then trying to crawl out of the hole they’ve dug at the beginning of the year. By setting a holiday budget for gifts, trips, holiday parties, etc., you can keep your finances in check and not experience the negative feeling of being in debt to start the year.

Put Something Fun on the Calendar

During the holiday months, there are so many fun events on the calendar making it feel like such an exciting time of the year. Then we hit January and there are few (if any) vacation days planned and no more holiday parties or other events. This alone can leave you feeling down. Whether it be a trip, staycation, or even just a lunch with friends, having these events on the calendar gives me something to look forward to!

Know This Will Pass

When I think back to the past several holidays, I can pretty much guarantee that I will have some sort of post-holiday blues. Each year, they usually last 2-3 weeks, but the more I get back into my routine and start to anticipate things coming up (hello, Valentine’s Day!), the better I feel. When I remind myself that this is a fleeting feeling and will pass, it always helps me significantly. With that said, if you experience a mood change that lasts for more than a few weeks, you may need to talk to a professional who can determine if there’s something else going on.

I hope this helps you get past these first few weeks after the holidays where we’re all experiencing some sadness that the festivities are over. If you have any tips that have helped you, I’d love to know in the comments!