It’s early February, the holidays and winter break have passed, and you start feeling a little down. Maybe you have a stressful semester ahead of you, a new job/internship is starting, OR you could more than likely be suffering from post-holiday blues. The “blues” is a commonly occurring phenomenon when dealing with daily life stress and change. With a few changes, you can beat those unhappy feelings and have a successful start to spring semester. Here are 5 ways to beat those horrible post- holiday blues:
1. Stop being so harsh on yourself.
Yes, I’m referring to New Years Resolutions! Some may make an almost unattainable new years resolution, leaving you feeling like a failure. Instead of making one big resolution, maybe start by making small, but attainable goals once a week. By making smaller goals each week, this will raise your confidence, and keep you aiming toward the end goal.
2. Spend time with your loved ones.
Don’t be a hermit! Around the holiday season you are constantly surrounded by your family and loved ones. Once you head back to college, you might feel lonely, or miss your family. Make sure to squeeze time in with your loved ones even if you are busy back at college. Get out and about to do activities where other people interact with you to help lift your spirit.
3. Exercise.
During the holidays many of us are stress free, and don’t have to worry about studying for an exam or giving a presentation. A new semester means a lot of stress, and exercise is proven to help reduce stress levels. In fact, doing any type of physical activity is going to increase not only your physical health, but mental health as well. Whether it’s getting in a gym session, going on a daily walk, or walking up and down the stairs of your apartment/house/work, it will benefit you and help lift your mood.
4. Plan a trip.
Let’s be honest, nothing is more exciting than booking a trip to somewhere beautiful during mid-winter. The change of environment will definitely boost your mood, and forces your brain to change for the better. The change of scenery and temperature will turn your post-holidays blues upside down!
5. Expect some let down.
Maybe your holiday break wasn’t as good as you expected it to be, leaving you feeling down. The best thing to do is accept that fact. Expecting to feel a little low is a way of telling yourself that this is a normal feeling and that it will soon pass once your routine re-establishes itself.