Post-Holiday Recovery: Self-Care Tips for a Fresh Start in the New Year

The holiday season may be the most wonderful time of the year, but days filled with celebrating, shopping, entertaining, and traveling can leave you exhausted. Avoid letting the post-holiday blues get the best of you with these helpful tips for hitting the reset button this January.

Establish your routine.

Did you know most adults don’t have a routine? Unfortunately, choosing to wing-it each day can lead to unwanted stress and anxiety at work and at home. Creating a schedule and prioritizing the activities that matter will structure your week, save time, and help you complete the most important tasks on your list. Don’t have 30 minutes to exercise? Make time with your new routine.

Hydrate.

Not drinking enough H2O throughout the day can affect your weight, your energy, and your brainpower. Especially after an indulgent holiday season, water can be a cure-all for bloating. Our bodies are the most dehydrated in the morning, so start your day by drinking a glass of water when you wake up.

Declutter your space.

One of the best ways to simplify your life is to declutter--less stuff means less to clean. Organize your items into four categories: keep, give away, trash, and re-locate. This will help you determine what you really need, and which items are just taking up space.

Get back to your budget.

Gifts, seasonal travel, and unexpected social events all add up this time of year. If you’ve found yourself with a bit of a financial hangover, don’t delay getting back on top of your everyday spending. Give yourself some tough love with extra expenses this month, like trading your $6 latte for black coffee at home.

Catch some Zs.

Sleep is just as important as healthy eating and exercise, but most of us don’t get enough of it! Establish a firm bedtime routine, allowing at least 30 minutes away from technology to unwind before falling asleep. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults between 18 and 60 need over 7 hours of sleep each night.