Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s… In the last few months of the year the festivities, holidays, and activities steadily build. Many complain about the stress of the holiday season and say they look forward to the calm of January; however, it is common to experience some let down, sadness, and loneliness in the wake of celebrations, family, and friends. Don’t let January steal your joy.
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Schedule time with friends. Now, in the relative calm, is the perfect time to plan one-on-one time with friends and catch up, or perhaps with that someone new you met at a holiday party that you would like to get to know. Restaurants should have more availability and traffic will be refreshingly decreased. Create an excuse to wear those new things Santa left under the tree, and get out of the house.
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Make it New. New Year’s is the perfect time to take up a new hobby or join a class at the gym. Consider ballroom dance, yoga, or cooking classes. A new activity will keep some excitement in your life and may be a way to be around more people. Or add some freshness to your life by redecorating and beautifying your environment.
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Rehydrate. The winter air is more dry and you may have indulged in more soda, punch, and other libations than water during your celebrations. Even mild dehydration will slow your metabolism as much as three percent and result in a 20 percent decrease in physical performance. Lack of water is the number one trigger of daytime fatigue and research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water each day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80 percent of sufferers. Less pain, more energy, and better focus directly fight depression.
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Organize. As you are planning ahead for the new year and cleaning up the remains of the decorations, celebrations, and goodies, take advantage of the time spent indoors to clean out the closet, the refrigerator, the Rolodex. Your efficiency will be improved and you will feel refreshed.
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If all else fails, start planning your Superbowl party now.