kind of suck at holidays. Mr Smaggle does too. In 2013 we went to Thailand for a relaxing and rejuvinating holiday and we ended up climbing mountains like lunatics, walking 30kms per day and sleeping very little. I think it’s because we’re a bit scared of the holiday blues… they come and get you at weird times when you’re supposed to be the most relaxed and happy you’ve been all year. If you’re the same you need to employ these little tips to help you beat those nasty holiday sads…
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1. Move your butt
When you aren’t working everyday you remove at least half of your incidental activity like walking to your building, going up and down stairs and running around your office. I cannot stress enough how detrimental inactivity is for your mental health. Go do a load of washing, walk to get a coffee or have a spring clean. Get up and get some shit done. Yes it’s a holiday but that isn’t an excuse to go all slug puddle on the situation. No one said holidays weren’t for moving.
2. Learn how to do something
Holidays are the perfect time to learn to crochet, do some drawing, paint something and tackle that giant DIY craft board you’ve spent 2 years making on Pinterest. Now is the time grasshopper… get to it!
3. Write lists
Of things that you want to get done over the holidays, of things that you want to achieve in the new year or of things that you want to achieve in five years time. The problem with the holidays is that often we feel purposeless as we are not working or studying. You don’t have to DO anything on the lists just simply writing them will give you a sense of clarity and help you relax.
4. Volunteer
See what volunteer programs are available in your area – you might like to walk dogs at your local shelter or volunteer at a food van. At the very least you should give blood because holidays are when blood is needed the most. It will make you feel all glowy inside I promise!
5. Eat well
Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve are your only free days over the holidays. Don’t think that if you eat sugar, refined carbohydrates, salt and fat for your whole holiday that you’ll feel good. You won’t. Eat some salad, have some salmon. Perhaps an apple? I promise you’ll feel better.
6. Sleep… but not too much
Avoid the temptation to over sleep and try to stick to your normal sleeping patterns. A few sleep ins or late nights here and there won’t hurt.
7. Unplug
Checking your Facebook, blog, Twitter and email twenty times while you’re on holiday just isn’t necessary. Turn the damn things off and get outside, read a book or talk to three dimensional people.
8. Avoid alcohol
It’s a depressant. Enough said. By all means have a glass of champers on New Year but don’t waste your yearly recovery time on being hungover.
9. Deal with it
Really ask yourself why you’re sad. Most of the time it’s simply because your routine is out of whack. Now compare that to some one who REALLY has a reason to be sad. It’s not the end of the world that your favourite restaurant is shut until mid January and your best friend is in Bali.
10. Get dressed.
Properly. Every day. There’s something about the holidays that turns even the best of us into slobs. If you look good, you feel good. Oh and just a side note to those in the Southern Hemisphere who spend the holidays at the beach – the ocean? It’s not a shower. So don’t treat it like one.
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Do you suffer from the holiday blues? How do you get your head back in the holiday game?
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