This time of year is busier than ever, with holidays nearly back to back. What better time than now to focus on recovering from the holidays?
Whether recovery means cleaning a dirty house, or taking a long hot soak for a bit of me time, getting back to a normal schedule after the holidays is a great way to re-focus and re-group.
Tips for Recovering from the Holidays:
1. Get your house back in some semblance of order
Often we cannot focus when our house is in shambles around us. Fixing or putting back into order what the holidays created chaos from is a great place to start in getting things back to normal!
2. Focus on establishing or re-establishing a routine
A routine keeps us in check with what we need to do, and often keeps us on a schedule. Establishing or re-establishing a routine can make life feel more in control, while keeping us on track.
3. Get plenty of rest
Sometimes sleep is one of the best ways to recover. After a day, week, or even month of gatherings and parties, the stress and constant go-go-go tends to wear us down physically and mentally. It’s okay to allow yourself extra rest for a season – just make sure a season doesn’t extend too long.
Two Bonus Tips:
4. Toss or donate the unhealthy food (and focus on healthy eating)
Extra sleep is a definite perk in holiday recovery time, but remember that extra sleep is best paired with healthy eating habits. To negate the temptation of leftover holiday sweets and treats – or even unhealthy meal leftovers – toss or donate the extra food.
Remember that junk won’t help you feel any better in the long term, physically or mentally. In fact, it may cause fatigue and make your recovery time longer.
If you have “off-plan” family members, consider sending leftovers with them for work lunches or even giving them the leftovers for lunches at home that you don’t have to do much more with than re-heat.
Leftovers of healthier foods – like turkey – could be re-purposed. Consider making a healthy turkey salad (or sub out chicken for turkey in this Tangy BBQ chicken salad for a delicious alternative).
5. Self Care, self care, self care
Listen to your body, and now more than ever take care of yourself. You cannot fill the cup of others if your cup is empty. Self care looks different for every person, but it could be a nice hot bath with scented bubbles, or as simple as a foot soak. Painting your nails, or even a face mask or putting on makeup can also be ways to pamper and care for yourself.
Self care isn’t selfish – it’s important.
What do you do to rest and recover after the holidays?
Christian, wife, “hybrid” mama, I run the site All Behind A Smile to help others like me.
[…] Pssst! Glad Thanksgiving is over and just looking to recover? Here’s 3 Tips for Recovering from the Holidays. […]