Don’t let the stress of the holiday season stop you from having a great new year!
The holidays are often a busy and stressful time of year. ‘Tis the season of eating too much, staying out too late, and falling out of routines. Many of us get off track during the holidays and may feel depressed, tired or let down after they’re over.
Check out some helpful and effective ways to recharge and reset after a busy holiday season:
- Find ways to connect. The holidays can stir up a mix of emotions, and they may not all be joyful. Maybe you’re grieving a loss in your life, or maybe you withdrew from family and friends because socializing felt overwhelming. Now that the holidays are over, it’s important to find ways to connect and let go of any grief, stress, or sadness that built up over the holidays. Social connections provide several benefits, like boosting your mood, reducing stress levels, and improving depression and anxiety symptoms. Consider a day of volunteering, find a support group to join, take a walk with friends, or rediscover an old hobby.
- Rest. Most adults need at least seven hours of sleep each night. During the holidays, your sleep schedule may have gotten off track between the extra shopping, cooking, and decorating. It’s important to get back on a good sleep schedule so your body and mind can recharge.
- Practice relaxation techniques. If you had a tough holiday season, use relaxation techniques to reduce your stress. Many Veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can cause added stress during big parties or within large crowds. Check out #LiveWholeHealth for breathing techniques, muscle relaxation, mindfulness, and more.
- Practice gratitude. Sometimes we build up high expectations for the holiday season and can feel let down when things don’t go as planned. Instead of focusing your attention there, try to find simple things to be grateful for. Write down three things each morning or reflect on one or two things each night. For some inspiration and tips, check out A Season of Gratitude All Year Long.
- Get moving. Exercise has many mental health benefits, like reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, boosting your mood, and building up your self-esteem. When you can, start building small amounts of movement into your routine–like a short walk after dinner or a yoga session when you wake up.
- Get back into a routine. Routines can help ease stress by eliminating guesswork and giving you a greater sense of control.
- Take a social media break. Sometimes too much scrolling on social media can leave us feeling lonely, anxious or depressed. Try taking a break and remember that social media doesn’t always portray real life.
- Practice self-care. Over the holidays, self-care may have taken a back seat while you focused on many other tasks. Ask yourself–what do you need to recharge and feel good? For some, it may be some time with a good friend; and for others, it may be some time alone with a book or a favorite show.
- Schedule a checkup. The new year is a great time for you and your provider to go over your health, your numbers (such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol), and any health goals, you may have. If you overindulged, a checkup with your health care provider can help you kickstart some better habits.
- Make small changes. Check out these 15 suggestions for small actions that can lead to big results in your overall health and wellness–like eating a healthy breakfast, drinking more water, performing an act of kindness each day, and more.
- Break down big tasks. If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff you have to do after the holidays, try to set small goals and break down some of your larger tasks. For example, set a timer for 15 minutes each night to go through your inbox or to clean up a certain part of your house.
- Review your budget.
If you spent too much money over the holidays, the additional financial stress can increase symptoms of anxiety and depression, affect your physical health, and impact your relationships. Look over your monthly spending and determine small changes you can make to get back on track. For example, try packing a lunch for the month of January or cooking more meals at home. For more tips and resources, check out Financial Stress and Its Impact on Your Health and Wellness. - Drink more water. It’s easy to forget about hydrating over the busy holiday season, especially when you include alcoholic drinks, holiday punch, and salty foods. Getting enough water can help you flush toxins and eliminate waste. Use these tips to ensure you’re getting enough H20.
- Don’t beat yourself up. If you indulged more than you normally do, it’s OK. If you stayed away from family or big parties, that’s OK too. If there was tension in your relationships or if you overspent on the holidays, the damage isn’t permanent. Don’t waste too much time criticizing yourself.
- Reach out. If you need support to help you move into the new year, reach out. Here are some VA resources:
- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Whole Health is an approach that centers care around what matters to you–not what’s the matter with you. Your health team develops a personalized health plan based on your values, needs, and goals. Learn more about the program and its emphasis on several factors that influence your health, including the need to slow down and take time to unwind. VA’s Live Whole Health app is a free and easy way to get started.
- VA also provides evidence-based treatment for a wide range of mental health conditions, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
- Make the Connection offers tips and personal stories from Veterans who have found ways to successfully manage holiday stress.
Don’t let the stress of the holiday season stop you from having a great new year!