With the family gatherings, vacations, and bright lights of this season, it’s no wonder that many suffer from post-holiday blues. But, how does one avoid the post-holiday blues?
Many people avoid them by planning projects that start after the new year or they might write out an ever-effective gratitude list. Also, writing out your New Year Resolutions which is very effective in avoiding the post-holiday blues.
Is it possible that everyone gets the post-holiday blues in one form or another. Do you miss your family after they go home or the bright and colorful lights? Or, you might be down from the stress and anxiety of too much activities and not enough sleep. If that happens to you, be sure to make getting caught up on your sleep a priority. Perhaps the visual transition from your everyday home to a joyous decor that brims with cheer and then back to the norm again is the culprit that brings on post-holiday blues for you.
Along with blessings from my home to yours, here are some ideas to keep that transition smoother and avoid the post-holiday blues.
How to Avoid the Post-Holiday Blues
1. Self-Care is you best friend.
Remember to take the time to meditate to help keep your emotions on an even keel. Your self-care is of great importance during the season of cooler weather with fewer hours of sunshine. All of the tips in this article point to self-care, but meditation or quiet times of mindfulness are at the top of the list. Of course, it’s up to you to choose the type of meditation you prefer. You also need to find a location that’s comfortable and quiet.
I emphasize this because what I know about myself is that my daily balance routines inevitably get disrupted during the holidays. I’m sure you will agree that the holidays are enough to throw anyone out of balance.
So, of course, it’s important to stick to even the most basic routine of meditation or whatever you have in your tool kit for de-stressing and relaxing during exciting times.
It might be your perfect cup of peppermint tea before the rest of the house wakes up. Or, it might be your morning yoga and meditation routine. Some love to go for an early morning walk to start their day out right.
Whatever helps you stay in balance is what you must continue doing – even during holiday entertaining!
2. Using natural decor and live plants.
A Christmas tree is usually a big focal point in a holiday room. Therefore, when you remove the tree, there’s usually nothing left in its place. That’s a recipe for disappointment to our senses on an intrinsic level.
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So, why not consider instead a live holiday tree growing in its own pot? One such example is the popular Norfolk Island Pine. You may purchase these trees from almost any home store and take one home today.
Usually, you find Norfolk Island Pine sold in a smaller size which makes it perfect for tables. If it’s not big enough to be your main focal point tree, dress it up anyway because this tree remains year-round to help ease your post-holiday blues.
With the proper care, Norfolk Pines grow inside your home and do rather well with the right conditions. So, before you know it, you might find it large enough to be your primary holiday tree.
However, if you live with a dog or cat, keep in mind that the Norfolk Pine is a toxic plant, so plan your room designs accordingly. Or, you might opt for a non-toxic living plant.
3. Non-toxic alternatives for plants.
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There are actually lots of plants with color and ambiance that lend a cheerful hand to help you ease your post-holiday blues. Below, you will find a list of non-toxic houseplants that are safe for use around pets and children.
- African Violet, (Saintpaulia)
- Baby Rubber Plant, (Peperomia Obtusifolia)
- Bird’s Nest Fern, (Asplenium Nidus)
- Chinese Money Plant, (pilea peperomioides)
- Christmas Cactus, (Schlumbergera)
- Mini Orchid, (Phalaenopsis Orchid)
- Spider Plant, (Chlorophytum Colosum)
- Trailing Jade, (peperomia rotundifolia)
- Parlor Palm, (Chamaedorea Elegans)
- Wax Plant, (Hoya carnosa)
4. Essential oils and incense help ease the blues.
Fill your room with the natural scents of the season and keep those scents going long after the holidays are past. Imagine the essence of pine cones or cinnamon as it floats through the air.
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That’s a lovely effect many of us enjoy during the holidays but why not keep the essence of the holidays lingering in the air year-round with essential oils or candles? The amazing inherent qualities of the right scents is that they lift your spirits no matter the time of year.
Bring out the candles, incense, and diffusers after the holidays, if you haven’t already done so. Also, add different touches of decor to them throughout the year. Then, continue using this warm and inviting element in your room year-round.
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Why not plan your joy throughout the year?
One fun way to spark your planning is to invest in a colorful and cheerful planner for the year ahead. Since I was a small child, I’ve loved colorful paper and stationery! I used to spend hours dreaming through all the beautiful stationery in the local stationery store in my hometown. I selected the planner below for it’s obvious jump into Spring and everything colorful.
This is a 2021 8.9 x 11.2 large planner with twin wire binding, two inside storage pockets and lots of note pages. I don’t know about you, but I get tired of squinting to see things on my devices, so, I still love a big planner notebook!
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Remember to remind yourself that the new year is about new beginnings. Moreover, I think most of us already know that nothing works better to help us beat the blues than a good diversion. Again, that’s where planning comes in to play as an effective tool.
So, what are your plans for the new year? The first priority must be getting your new year’s resolution list in place. Then, go about filling your calendar with upcoming celebrations. By looking forward and filling your calendar with upcoming cheer, it gives you a mental boost of pleasant expectations of that which is yet to come!
Softening the Impact with neutrals.
An idea that might evolve your holiday color scheme is to keep the holidays neutral. Doing so might just make it a smoother and simpler visual change after the holidays. Why not try using neutral and relaxing decor to transition through to the new year and beyond?
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Another suggestion is to stick your usual living room color scheme and add complimenting holiday colors that don’t go extinct when December 26th rolls around. So, when you decorate for the holidays this year, look around and decide what items you might keep on display after the holidays. It’s a simple technique that anyone can do effectively.
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You might go for a natural scene with twigs, and sparkly lights for an earthy combination that pops with a hint of the holiday. This very interesting yet generic decor transitions nicely throughout the winter months to keep your cheer factor intact.
Conclusion
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It is our wish that you find this post enlightening and helpful. If you have any questions or suggestions, we love to hear from you in the comments below. Also, kindly accept our invitation to join our group on Facebook to surround yourself with kindred spirits and post your encouraging messages.
