5 tips to cope with post-holiday blues

Now that the holidays are over and you've (hopefully) enjoyed your well-deserved time off by letting go, relaxing, and enjoying yourself, you'd think you'd feel reborn and ready to go back to work full of energy. However, it is not unusual to suffer from post-holiday blues, as many people do. After all, it's quite a transition, and that requires time, space, and adjustment. These tips will help you on your way.

1. Take time to acclimatize

It is often for practical reasons (stretching holidays as long as possible, saving as many holiday days as possible) that we go straight back to work after our holidays. However, if you want to avoid post-holiday blues, it is important that you take the time and space to readjust yourself. Take it easy and give yourself time to get used to being at home again. Do the laundry, tidy up the house, see some friends and family and try to relax as much as possible in the meantime. It's okay to spend a few days acclimatizing, it will make the transition to the busy long days at work a lot easier, and the landing a lot softer.

2. Go into nature, as often as you can

Returning to work after the holidays can be quite overwhelming. From standing still, slowing down, and living according to your nature, to getting your foot back on the gas paddle. Going into nature is always a good idea, but especially during the transition from holiday time to your working life, you need time and space to adjust again. Nature is the perfect tool for doing so.

After returning home, make time for an extra long walk in the woods every weekend or evening. Even a daily walk in the park around the corner helps you to stay grounded and to keep your inner peace. Breathing in some fresh air combined with exercise is the best way to spend your lunch break time.

3. Keep doing the things that made you happy during the holidays

Have you enjoyed reading books, mountain biking, or mindless swimming during your holidays? Then realize that there is no reason not to continue doing so after your holiday. Even if the surroundings and circumstances obviously differ.

Think about the things you enjoyed during your holiday, and try to continue doing as much of them as possible after you get home. Who knows, maybe this will result in beautiful new habits and routines that help you to de-stress and relax, day after day.

4. Take (extra) breathing breaks

Your breathing acts as the remote control of your inner system. By changing the way you breathe, you change your state of mind. In just a few seconds. So every time you feel overwhelmed being back at work: breathe. Slowly and consciously.

Controlled, slow breathing triggers the relaxation response of your body, slowing down your heart rate, relaxing your muscles, calming your nerves, and soothing your thoughts. Just sit down, close your eyes and breathe slowly in and out from the belly for a while. You will soon notice a calmness coming over you.

Can you use some help? Moonbird is specifically designed to guide you in doing slow breathing exercises in order to find more inner peace. Anytime, anywhere - moonbird fits in every bag so you can easily take it to work.

5. Meditate on the positive feeling

No emails, no alarm clocks, no deadlines… Just you, good company, and endless summer nights. The holiday feeling is amazing and it does a person so well, but it can quickly be forgotten once you have returned back to the ‘real world’.

Try to meditate on that feeling, to let its healing effect work for you for as long as possible. Take conscious moments every day, in which you close your eyes and raise your positive energy by thinking back in gratitude for the wonderful time you had during your holiday. Remember the beautiful moments. Breathe in that feeling. Smile and be grateful. When you consciously stay with those positive feelings with your attention, those positive feelings will also stay with you. Everything you give attention to grows.

Conclusion

Whatever you do, do it with attention. Do it slowly. And be kind to yourself. Then you will soon be back in the good working vibes, no doubt about that.

Do you want to know more about moonbird and what it could do for you? Have a look at how breathing with moonbird works.