By: Hannah Garratt, LPC, NCC 12/23/2024

Mentally Recovering from the Holidays

We continuously hear that the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year – so what comes after? After the season ends it is important to give yourself time and space to recenter and recharge. Here are a couple ways that may help you recover from the holidays:
1. Acknowledge Your Feelings
The holidays can bring up a host of emotions—joy, sadness, excitement or even loneliness. After the busy season it can be important to acknowledge these feelings. Allow yourself to process what you are feeling and experiencing.
2. Rest and Sleep
Quality sleep helps restore both physical and mental health. The holidays often throw off sleep schedules due to traveling, late nights or stress. Prioritizing getting back to a regular sleep schedule of about 7-9 hours a night can help you manage post holiday fatigue.
3. Set Healthy Boundaries
If the holidays involved family gatherings or other social commitments, it may be necessary to re-establish boundaries. It’s essential to slow down and give yourself a break after all the hustle and bustle. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, practice saying no to additional responsibilities and extra commitments for a while.
4. Practice Self-Care
Engage in activities that bring you comfort and relaxation. This could include:
• Physical self-care: Skin care routine, exercise, go for walks, take a warm baths, or do yoga.
• Mental self-care: Read, meditate, or journal your thoughts. Practices like deep breathing, body scans, or guided meditations can help calm your mind and bring you back into the
present moment. Focusing on gratitude can shift your mindset and help you end the year on a positive note.
• Creative outlets: Try painting, writing, or other hobbies that help you unwind.
5. Limit Social Media and Prioritize Connection
Limiting screen time after the holidays and prioritizing connection with supportive people may help bring you joy. Finding someone to share your experience with who understands can be incredibly healing.
6. Reframe Expectations/Establish New Goals (When Ready)
After the holidays, you may feel like you have to set a ton of new goals and get back to doing everything you were previously doing. Be kind to yourself by adjusting your expectations. It is
okay to ease back into thing. When you are ready you may want to set goals — make sure they are realistic so that they are something to look forward to and not an area of stress. Incorporating some of these tips can help you can gently ease back into your routine and start the new year feeling more balanced and grounded.

If your post holiday feelings persist it may be helpful to speak to a mental health professional – we would love to hear from you! Give us a call at 847-854-4333 for a free 15-minute consultation!