5 Mindfulness Tips to Help You Beat the After-Holiday Blues

Mindfulness is more than a buzzword. It’s actually an incredibly powerful tool that you can use every day to feel more centered and less stressed.

You can even use it to push yourself through the post-holiday blues.

This year has been difficult for everyone, and the holidays may have been different for you. You may have built up expectations for a “magical” holiday season, only to be let down in different ways.

You might struggle with grief and loss due to the uncertainty of this year. Or, now that the holidays are over, you might feel like a bit of that magic is gone, too.

Thankfully, mindfulness can come to the rescue yet again. Let’s look at five tips to use mindfulness to help you beat those after-holiday blues.

1. Meditate More

One of the easiest ways to use mindfulness to your advantage is to practice it more. There are no hard and fast rules as to “when” you should meditate, breathe deeply, or be more mindful.

If you’re feeling especially stressed, or down throughout the day, hit the pause button. Stop, notice, and observe in that particular moment. Even if you only have five minutes, it can make a difference in how you feel.

2. Change the Lighting

You can feel more in the moment by making your surroundings as positive as possible. One way to do that is by changing the lighting.

If you already struggle with the darkness of winter, you can benefit from bright lighting that mimics the sun. Dedicate a room in your home to mindfulness and meditation, and fill it with lighting that makes you feel positive and relaxed.

3. Use Aromatherapy

Nothing helps you to focus on the present like your sense of smell. Aromatherapy is a great way to concentrate on your breathing and relax. Certain scents can even help you feel relaxed and elevate your mood.

You can use essential oils in different areas of your home (or office) to bring yourself back to the present and be more relaxed and calm.

4. Practice Gratitude

One reason people struggle with the holiday blues is the feeling of being let down by expectations. You may have wanted things to go a certain way this season, and they didn’t. Or, you may have missed out on normal traditions this year.

Instead of focusing on what you lost, focus on the things you have. Practice gratitude as much as possible. Whenever you think of another thing to be thankful for, acknowledge it. Write it down. Use that list as often as possible to bring yourself back to the present and realize that you have many things to be grateful about.

5. Be Kind to Yourself

It’s easy to let the holiday blues make you feel guilt and shame, which can cause things to spiral even more. Now, more than ever, it’s important to be self-compassionate and kind to yourself. Consider the things you were able to accomplish this season. Focus on the positive aspects of your holiday. Now that the holiday season is over, think about what you’re going to do next.

While mindfulness is about living in the moment, and not necessarily in the past or future, it’s okay to look forward. Holding onto the past of the holidays can drag you down, but understanding what you have to look forward to now and in the future can help you feel better and more positive.

If you’re still struggling with the after-holiday blues and you’re not sure how to get through those feelings, please contact me.

Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash