How to Recover After the Holidays

The holidays can really drain us. There’s so much to do to prepare like baking, buying and wrapping presents, cleaning, decorating, traveling, and so much more. We also tend to stay up later and eat an unhealthy diet. I know I tend to collapse physically and emotionally after all the activities are over. We did a lot of traveling to make sure we got to see most of our family members.  For those of us with chronic illness these things can have an even greater impact. How about you? Does the stress of Christmas and new Years take its toll on you? I decided to come up with some ideas on how to recover after the holidays.

• Drink lots of water. If we are even a bit dehydrated we can feel more tired and sluggish. Get a big water bottle and carry it around with you.
• Get back to healthier eating habits. It’s so easy to indulge in things like cookies and fatty foods during the holidays. Give your body a rest and consider doing a small detox like the 3 day detox   from Dr. Oz. Of course ask your doctor first if this is appropriate for you.
• Take a multivitamin and eat a colorful diet that includes all kinds of healthy foods.
• Take it easy for  few days. I know for some of you that is not easy. You may have to go back to work or have little ones at home. Find someone to help you take your decorations down. I am thankful to have my daughter home from college who is a big help to me.  Just don’t overdo it. Come home and rest after work. Hire a tween or teen to watch your kids while you rest. Try not to schedule any traveling for a while.
• Breathe– So many of us breathe too shallow. Take some time to practice your breathing. Lay down in a quiet place and place your hand on your stomach. Take a deep breath in. Your stomach should rise. Slowly let it out. Start with 5 minutes a day and work your way up to 10 or 15 minutes a day. There are lots of breathing exercises that can be found on the internet.
• Build your friendships. During the holidays we often don’t have much time for our friends. I know I spend most of my time with my family. Some of us also experience the post holiday blues. It can help to talk to someone. Schedule a lunch date or call them on the phone to see how they celebrated their holidays.
• Get a massage. I know they can be expensive, but maybe you were lucky enough to get a gift card or some money for a present.
• Take a walk. I know where I live this time of year is very cold. We were lucky enough to have some unexpected nice weather for a few weeks, but now it is COLD! If it’s above 30 degrees I like to bundle up and take my dog for a quick walk. You could also do walking inside. I often march in place or do side steps for about 15 to 20 minutes. I know everyone is at a different exercise tolerance so please don’t feel like you have to do what someone else is doing. The important thing is to move a bit and at least do some stretches.

I hope these suggestions were helpful. Are there other ways you like to wind down after the holidays?

Yes this is me in my pajamas. I thought I would keep it real. But they’re pretty nice Christmas pj’s don’t you think? My daughter, the photographer in the family caught me off guard.