When that last drop of New Year’s champagne is gone and the Christmas ornaments are packed away, many people enter a state of post-holiday blues. It’s winter; the parties are over and it’s back to the daily grind. But you can beat the post-holiday blues.

7 Tips to Survive the Blues and Get Back on Track for the New Year:

• Leave a few decorations up around the house for a few weeks – especially greenery. Don’t be in a hurry to put everything away all at once. There’s nothing that looks so bare as your rooms when all the lights and wreaths have been taken down and stored. Leave out a few things to brighten the grey January days.
• Let there be light. The post-holiday blues occur when the days are the shortest. We all need good natural light to feel our healthiest and happiest. So be sure to get outside for some natural light for at least a few minutes every day – especially on sunny winter days. And open the blinds and let as much natural light as possible into your home and workplace.
• Get back to normal eating patterns. All the rich foods and desserts of the holidays can leave us feeling sluggish and foggy. Be mindful about what you’re eating now that the treats are not tempting you everywhere you go. Avoid alcohol and drink plenty of water.
• Get back to normal sleeping patterns. Our bodies need a regular sleep routine. The late-night revelry of the holidays can leave us tired and out of sorts. So get back to your regular sleeping and waking schedule.
• Exercise. Chances are bumping up your fitness routine is already probably part of your New Year’s resolutions. A good workout boosts your mood and metabolism in addition to being a good habit.
• Changing things up a bit. Break your routine. Turn off the TV and have a board game night with the family. Pack up some soup in thermoses and have a winter picnic in the park on a Sunday afternoon. Shake yourself out of the doldrums by shaking up your routine.
• Remember that spring is right around the corner. The seed catalogs will be coming in the mail before you know it. Planning your spring garden is a great way to spend a winter day.

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