9 Ways to Beat the Post-Holiday Blues
We're all so excited when we can finally set our books aside, stay up late on weeknights and sleep in under our cozy comforter in the chilly weather.
Yep, winter break is the best—but, once it's over, and all the holiday decorations come down, many of us are left feeling a case of the blues.
It's almost like the entire year built up to this 1-2 week period, and after all is said and done, sometimes it's like, Okay, what do we have to look forward to now?
But instead of looking at this negatively, we're here to bring you nine ways to stay positive during this transitional time of year:
1. Embrace the Fresh Start a New Year Brings
Whew, this is the time where you can finally let go of anything that held you back in the previous year! If you feel like you didn't live the healthiest lifestyle, if you felt bogged down by what was going on in the world, or if you experienced a fight with a friend or a bad breakup, now's the time to set all that negativity free and focus on moving forward. Use this time as an excuse to reassess your goals and figure out who you really want to be this year. The good news is pretty much everyone else has the same mindset as you, so if you're ready to move on from last year, so are they.
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2. Reinvent Yourself
Going off of No. 1, this is your chance to embrace change. If there's a hair trend you want to try or a new hobby you want to take up, new year, new you! Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone this year. If you weren't a big fan of the person you were in the last 12 months, then switch things up this time around. Trust us, even the slightest change can make a big difference.
3. Put Energy Into Your New Year's Resolutions
Okay, we're not going to sit here and tell you that every single person's New Year's resolutions will pan out successfully for the next 12 months—but, at least for the time being, give them your best shot. Whether you want to do volunteer work, exercise more, study harder in school or whatever the case may be, giving your goals a fair try will keep you fulfilled and give you something to continuously maintain. Putting energy into bettering yourself can distract from life's little annoyances and can keep you from worrying about what everyone else is doing.
4. Give Yourself Something to Look Forward to in the Very Near Future
Whether it's throwing a post-NYE party a week after Jan. 1, or it's planning a little trip somewhere with your best friends, having something exciting to anticipate will keep you motivated to get through the days leading up to the event. It doesn't have to be anything major, but just having fun, upcoming plans with a friend or S.O. will keep you trucking along.
5. Write a List of Movies or TV Shows You Want to See
If there's a time to catch up on movies, now is it! The chilly weather is the perfect opportunity to grab a pal, a date or even family member and check off all the great flicks in theaters or streaming. Not only can you relive the holidays through some of the recent releases, but it's also awards season, which means all of the Oscar contenders are available for viewing!
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6. Eat Healthy and Exercise
This sounds like a no-brainer, but the truth is, now's the most important time to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Because of the chilly weather, it's easy to be lazy or carelessly eat whatever we want while bundled up under sweaters, but guess what? That's only going to make us feel more bummed out. If you don't feel like making the trek to the gym, simply work out from the house with free YouTube videos or fitness tools designed for your at-home hustles! Even logging 20 minutes of exercise a day will have you seeing a noticeable difference.
And when it comes to eating right, head on over to Pinterest and look for healthy substitutes for some of your fave indulgences. You'll be shocked at how many sensible versions you can make of some of your most guilt-inducing dishes. Just search the name of the dish and add "guilt-free" or "healthy."
7. Put Effort Into Your Morning Routine
We totally get that it's tough to dress your best when dealing with heavy rain or snow, but that doesn't mean you should kick your sprucing habits totally to the curb. Take time in the morning to do your hair or put on some makeup. Trust us, putting effort into your appearance really changes the way you feel about your day. While there are plenty of things in life you can't control, don't let your confidence be one of them!
8. Keep a Happiness Journal
Journals are great to have in general. They're a safe haven for you to let out all of your emotions, express gratitude and use to reflect upon life at a later date. But even better, keeping a happiness journal really gets you in the mindset of positivity. We recently received the 100-day Happiness Planner as a gift, and it not only encourages us to keep track of all the little things that bring a smile to our face each day, but it also provides tools to help us improve relationships, train our minds to think more positively and set goals. It's okay to need a little reinforcement, but at least this option is here to give us just that!
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9. Create a Vision Board
Whether you're a believer or not, vision boards have been used by many people over time to manifest goals and dreams. It's easy to get distracted from what we really want in life when there's so much going on around us, but creating a vision board really allows you to manifest your desires. If you're wondering just where to begin, click HERE for different layout options and HERE for how to go about your manifestation!
2017 is now a thing of the past, but if you're still googly-eyed over some celebrity couples from last year, click HERE for what we considered to be their cutest moments!
