5 Healthy Habits to Help You Overcome the Post-Holiday Slump
Have you ever found yourself feeling a bit run-down after the summer holiday break? Even though your end-of-year holiday is supposed to be a time to help you relax and reset for the new year, it’s common for people to come out of this period feeling exhausted from the bustle of the festive season and overwhelmed by a full year’s worth of new tasks to approach.
All it takes to overcome the post-holidays slump is to commit to some simple daily habits:
1. Set Realistic Goals
When it comes to approaching new health habits, it’s common for us to set the bar too high and end up disappointed when we don’t reach our goals. Go easy on yourself and take it one small step at a time. For example, if you want to exercise more, aim to add 10-20 minutes to your daily routine, and slowly work your way up to 30-40 minutes day by day. Keeping the goal posts at an achievable level will help you stay motivated to push yourself and achieve that feeling of accomplishment.
2. Sleep is Key
Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to help your body fully reset and restore. This sets the foundation of your mood and state of mind for the day ahead. You can boost the quality and duration of your sleep by spending time in the sun during the day, practicing relaxing evening activities like meditation, and getting regular exercising throughout the week.
3. Stay Hydrated
There are countless benefits to maintaining proper hydration, including a boost to your energy levels, metabolism and mood. Stay happy, healthy and hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day.
4. Give Yourself a Break
The only way to avoid burnout and exhaustion is to schedule regular breaks into your daily routine. Take a few minutes step away from work or your responsibilities, have a good stretch, take a few deep breaths to refresh your mind, and spend a little bit of time doing something that makes you happy.
5. Connect with Nature
Spending time outdoors in the sunshine can have a massive impact on your health, sleep quality, and frame of mind. To maximise the benefits, try to consider your time outdoors with a ‘mindful’ lens. Really try to absorb and connect with the sights, sounds, smells and sensations of everything around you.
Be kind to yourself. If you struggle with sticking to a new habit or don’t reach a goal you’ve set for yourself in time, don’t let it make you feel defeated. If the post-holiday period gets you feeling down or overwhelmed, take a few deep breaths to refocus your attention and use one of the strategies above to get back into a positive state of mind.
