5 steps to beating Silly Season Crash

And so the silly season has come to an end which means its time for us to find our feet again and find the rhythms of our everyday life again. Sometimes at this time of the year it can be easier said than done. This is a mix of reasons. The first is often a more biological reason: the adrenaline rush from the festive season has a natural drop. But it’s also an emotional drop too. The high of the emotions, the stress, the anticipation, the excitement or dread can swing strongly once they’ve subsided to a rather low. Throw in the after effects of a big short term change up to normal eating habits and its a mix for feeling down, lethargic and a little blue. I always get like this from Christmas til just after New Years and I’ve always called it ‘Silly Season Crash’. So this January, I wanted to start my blog with my guide to overcoming the Silly Season Crash.

1. Re-adjust your expectations of yourself

I find most people feel a massive expectation from not just others but also themselves that they need to jump straight into 2019 head first and already trying to be their best self. I’ve found for me in the past that approach didn’t really work and generally just set me up to feel even worse about myself. Its ok to spend some time self-reflecting at the beginning of a new year and giving yourself the time to refind your ‘everyday’ feet and getting back into your daily routine.

  2. Refresh your space

This one may seem like a no-brainer but it’s often one that’s overlooked (including by me). A messy space can often impact how we process things and affect our mood. By taking the time to declutter, brighten and organize where we spend most of our time, it can really help in turn clear our headspace and give us more focus. I also find that the process of sorting helps clear the mind mentally too. Organising your schedule can help bring some normality back as well too.

  3. Take care of yourself

It’s easy to fall into letting our self care slide during the post-festive season (especially that awkward gap between Christmas and New Years Eve!) and when you’re feeling less than your best it’s easy to slip deeper into a down rut. An important step to getting out of this place is to get back into a routine of regular sleep, eating regularly and getting some fresh air/sunshine. I mean this may sound silly but I know when I get into hermit mode, I tend to hide inside and play sims 4 lol.

  4. Set your goals for 2019

One way to pull yourself out of a rut is to focus forward on things to look forward too. Now when I say set goals, I don’t mean jumping straight into the diet culture of ‘lose weight/start a diet’. I mean setting goals that help expand and broaden who you are and your experience. Things like planning a holiday, joining a class or Organizing, attending a group, taking up a sport or taking up a new hobby. These things will help engage you and help give you a focus to move forward with.

  5. Surround yourself with support

Christmas and New Years can be a rough time not just in terms of stress but for some people its very isolating. The new year can be a great time to nurture our existing friendships or make new ones. A catch up outside of the house can be a way to get out, get some fresh air and enjoy connecting with people we love and who support us is a great way to lift out of a bad place.

I hope you all found this little guide useful and remember, that these feelings aren’t permanent and that you’ll find your feet again.