3 Health Habits to Help You Kick the Post-Holiday Blues

This past weekend we “de-Christmas’d” our house.  My children ran around pretending to be the Grinch as they gathered the snowman throw pillows, nutcrackers, and pictures with Santa from over the years and carried it all to the basement.  I carefully–and somewhat mournfully–took down the ornaments and lights and garland from the Christmas tree.  After a busy, festive holiday season, I am feeling some post-holiday blues.  And, I’m not alone.  In fact, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 64% of people are known to  suffer from some form of post holiday-blues.

Why Do We Feel This Way?

Psychologists have attributed this phenomenon to a variety reasons including a sudden decrease in adrenaline, poor holiday diet, and seasonal affective disorder.

Keeping yourself healthy is one of the best ways to pull yourself out of this slump, so let’s dive into that a little bit further.

3 Health Habits to Help You Kick the Post Holiday Blues

1. Prioritize sleep

PsyCom recommends getting quality sleep as a way to decrease the post Christmas blues.  In order to achieve good quality sleep, make sure that your room is at the right temperature, you avoid using electronic devices before bed, and that you create a consistent sleep schedule.  Another thing to keep in mind?  The humidity level in your home.  The winter months result in dry air, which means irritated nasal passages, coughing, and dry itchy skin all negatively impacting your sleep.  A humidifier could be a good investment.

2. Don’t skimp on the fluids

Being dehydrated can make you feel physically crummy and can even alter your mood.  If you are feeling a little down, think about your fluid intake for the day.  It may be time for another glass of water.  Click here to learn about recommended fluid intakes for men and women.

3. Eat nutrient dense foods

I have yet to meet at a single person that hasn’t succumbed to at least a few treats during the holiday season.  For most of us, the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s are filled with rich foods, alcohol, and plenty of sugar.  While enjoyable at the time, this over-indulgence can leave us feeling pretty low physically and emotionally come January 1.  In order to help kick the post-holiday blues, focus on eating healthy, nutritious foods.  Your body and your mind will thank you.

**Please be aware that if you are having any serious concerns regarding your ‘post-holiday blues,’ don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor to seek medical advice**

Looking for more information about humidifiers or other ways to keep your home comfortable as we begin 2021?  Contact us at FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, and Electrical!