I absolutely love the start of the New Year! There is no better time for a reset, a rebrand, or a check in with yourself. With a new year comes new hope, new possibilities, and new excitement for what might be ahead.
Perhaps what makes the new year an exceptional time for a reset is that it happens to arrive right after the holiday season here in the states. Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, we have possibly just enjoyed several months of overindulgence and lack of routine. I am in the midst of recovering from an amazing holiday season: financially, physically, and even emotionally.
Self care is important all year round, but after busy times, it can be beneficial to take a little extra care of ourselves. So here are some low stress ways to recover from your holiday season.
Get into bed 30 minutes earlier than usual.
Even if you know you won’t be able to fall asleep right away, try getting yourself under those covers just 30 minutes earlier than you did over the holidays. Over time, your body will adjust once it learns this means it is time for sleep.
You can read, listen to some ASMR with your headphones, or close your eyes and meditate, just try not to scroll. We are getting the body into relaxation mode. These 30 minutes are the start of your journey to catch up on sleep and get back to a regular sleep schedule.
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Craft a “movement plan.”
Over the holidays, I was lucky enough to be in London for almost 2 weeks. It was absolutely magical, however, I did not once go to the gym or workout. We did lots of walking, but as someone who has a regular workout routine, my muscles craved attention.
Decide on how you want to move this month. Try promising yourself you will do one bit of movement each day. It can be anything from going for a walk to starting up at the gym again or taking the stairs up to your office whenever possible. I highly recommend doing it at the same time every day as well. Consistency (not necessarily motivation) is key.
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Eat at home.
I said it! Go the month of January without eating take out or going to a restaurant. Groceries are expensive, but the cost of one week of groceries can easily equal the cost of a night out to dinner or UberEats. Now’s the time to rebuild those funds!
Eating at home also almost guarantees a healthier diet. When you make your own food, you know exactly the ingredients you will be eating and have control over what you are putting in your body each day. Nourishing your body is a lovely form of self care.
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Set physical and emotional boundaries.
The holidays are filled with so many strong emotions, some are beautiful, some are sad, and some are bittersweet. Maybe you did not get a free moment to yourself. Maybe you were missing someone or spent the season feeling financially strained.
You might need some extra alone time during January and that is completely valid. Check in with yourself before saying yes to plans or to being somewhere that could be overwhelming. For me, January is kind of like a hibernation month. It doesn’t mean I’m home 24/7, but I am more careful with my time and energy after spending all of my December weekends out and about.
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Make time in the week for one thing you enjoy.
Self care and recovery go beyond rest and eating healthy (though those are oh so important)! You also want to be happy! The winter blues are so real and the New Year can be a major coming down from a holiday high. You’ve spent the last few months at parties, events, celebrating spooky season, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve and now…nothing. January is tough, which is why you have to add in your own fun.
Pick something you truly enjoy, it shouldn’t feel like a chore, and make time for it each week. Ideally, you’d do this each day, but I’m being as realistic as possible. I genuinely love reading, so during my 30 minutes earlier to bed, I read. Maybe you love running, crafting, drawing, writing, taking photos, the list goes on. Try to block out some precious time each week to do what you love with nothing in your way.
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Resetting and recovering from the holiday season will happen on your own time. What is most important is that you are taking care of your mental, physical, and spiritual health this month. Self care is never selfish, because when you care for yourself, that is a form of self love. The more you love yourself, the more love you can give out to others <3
