10 tips to beat winter depression and the post-holiday blues.
When your summer holidays feel like a distant memory and you’re turning the dial-up on your central heating, it’s easy to feel a little melancholy, remembering a summer filled with grand days out, holidays abroad and ice lollies melting in the sun. For many people, as the nights draw in and the temperatures plummet, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and winter depression are a clear and present danger. Even if we don’t suffer from SAD, post-holiday blues are a well-documented phenomenon…At least, they are according to Wikipedia!
A person may suffer from post vacation blues after returning home or to a normal routine from a long vacation, especially if it was a pleasurable one. The longer a trip lasts, the more intense the post vacation blues may be. This is because after the person returns home, they realize how boring and unsatisfactory their normal lifestyle routine is when compared to the activities he or she did while on their holiday/vacation. It is easier to overcome/adjust to a normal routine the shorter the trip was. Post vacation blues may result in tiredness, loss of appetite, strong feelings of nostalgia, and in some cases, depression. Jet lag may intensify the post vacation blues. – Wikipedia
Treating winter depression and the post-holiday blues.
Thankfully, because the Taylor tribe didn’t go far enough to get jet lag (Dorset), we’ve managed to avoid a serious case of post-holiday blues. Nevertheless, it’s still worth treating even the mildest symptoms of vacation withdrawal. After all, if we have any hope of making it to the end of yet another endless season of X-factor episodes, it’s vital we inoculate ourselves now.
So what, exactly, is the treatment? Wikipedia assures me the post-vacation blues will wear off in time, although how long the condition lasts can vary from days to weeks.
The good news is, there are plenty of ways you can speed up your recovery from post-holiday blues and the folks at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are on the case! They sent me a post-holiday survival kit to treat my winter ‘funk’ until it’s time to welcome in a New Year, bursting with possibilities, including an eagerly anticipated family holiday.
The package contained some of the recommended pick-me-ups to beat the post-holiday blues, including aromatherapy candles, face masks, herbal teas, healthy treats and some fitness goodies too.
If you’re looking for ways to cheer yourself up as the winter months loom, my ‘blues-busting’ tips are a good place to start.
10 tips to beat winter depression and the post-holiday blues.
1. Enjoy the memories of your holiday experiences.
Rather than mourning the inevitable return to your daily routine, change your mindset and appreciate the experiences you’ve had instead. See the enjoyable moments of your trip as part of a lifelong treasure trove of lasting memories. Sharing your holiday memories with your friends is a good way of overcoming your post-holiday blues, too, so have some fun swapping stories with your friends.
2. Pamper yourself.
Whether you opt for a luxury spa break or treat yourself to a soothing facial, you’ll feel so much better after a bit of pampering. Pampering needn’t be expensive either. Try one of these fabulous Tonymoly ‘I’m real’ Face mask sheets and settle into your favourite chair and enjoy. You can buy all 12 varieties for only £12.90 including free delivery from Amazon : HERE.
3. Get some exercise.
As well as improving your general health and well-being, exercise can help you get back into shape after the summer excesses. Yoga is one form of exercise that’s perfect for improving your level of fitness and enhancing your mood. If you’ve never tried yoga, why not find a class near you and meet some new people? Then, when your summer holidays come around again, you can take your yoga mat on the road. Jennifer J. Ellinghaus has plenty of advice on sequences, postures and guidance for every journey in her handy guide ‘Yoga for travellers’. You can buy it here: Yoga for Travellers.
4. Make a list of things you want to do and experience over the winter months.
I love lists! So writing down things to look forward to and experience over the winter months is the ideal pick-me-up for a listaholic like me.
5. Learn a new skill or take up a hobby.
If you’re struggling with the return to ‘ordinary life’ after a fun-packed summer, why not perk yourself up by breaking free from your normal routines by learning a new skill or taking up a new hobby? Visit your local library, college, community centre or leisure centre to see if there are any local courses or classes that interest you. It’s a great way to meet new people, too.
6. Rest and relaxation.
Re-establishing regular sleep patterns and taking the time to relax can do wonders for your mood and sense of wellbeing. Whether your favourite form of relaxation is a herbal tea, listening to your favourite music or indulging in some ‘adult colouring’, make time to relax in the midst of the daily grind.
7. Nutrition.
When levels of sunlight drop in the winter months, so too do our levels of vitamin D, so you may need to take supplements to avoid vitamin deficiency. Although, it’s tempting to eat comfort foods in the winter, a balanced and healthy diet will help to keep your body and mood in tip-top condition.
8. Embrace the winter months with Hygge.
Instead of dreading the dark nights and inevitable drop in temperature, embrace the winter season instead with ‘hygge’, the Scandinavian word which roughly translated means. ‘cosiness of the soul’. Hygge is all about candles, cosy armchairs, warm woollen mittens and snuggling up in a cosy armchair a favourite book. Sound tempting? If you want to find out more about the art of hygge, check out my earlier post: HERE.
9. Be grateful.
If you’re fortunate enough to have a wonderful summer holiday to look back on, count your blessings! Be grateful you had the chance to experience a great vacation, especially when many people can’t afford to travel or are limited by other factors.
10. Start planning your next holiday.
One of the best ways to overcome the post-holiday blues is to start planning and looking forward to your next holiday. Check out the online offers and pick up some early bird bargains at Jet2.com and Jet2holidays and start getting excited about what the future holds, instead of getting nostalgic about the past.
Win the Yoga for Travellers book.
One lucky reader has the chance to win Jennifer J. Ellinghaus’s wonderful little book, Yoga for Travellers. It’s packed full of tips, yoga sequences, postures and guidance for every journey so you can take your yoga on the road.
For a chance to win, simply enter the rafflecopter competition below:
Competition terms and conditions:
- There is one prize of the Yoga for Travellers book for one winner.
- The prize is non-transferable and no cash alternative is offered.
- Up to 6 entries per person. All are compulsory methods of entry.
- Open to UK residents aged 18 and over.
- Entries must be received by 11.59pm on 26th October 2017.
- The winners will be chosen at random and notified by email on or after 27th October 2017.
- If the winner does not respond within 7 days a new winner will be drawn.
- Maflingo reserves the right to amend or withdraw the competition at any time without notice or liability.
- Entry to this competition confirms that participants have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
- This competition is governed by the laws of England and any dispute shall be governed by the English courts.
Over to you.
Do you suffer from the post-holiday blues? If so, what medicine works best for you? As always, I’d love to hear from you.
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This is a collaborative post, although all words and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links which mean I may receive a small commission if you click through and purchase.
These tips are my own thoughts on beating the post-holiday blues. If you are suffering from SAD or depression, it’s always best to seek advice from a medical professional.
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