At the end of the long run of magic, joy, and love that is the holiday season comes a hefty dose of strain and exhaustion. It’s been months of peak-excited kids, changes in routine, travel, visits, juggling extended family, and for a lot of moms—being the primary maker of all the joy and magic. As we head into the New Year, there’s an immediate and intense pressure to start making resolutions and begin measures for self-improvement. It can be overwhelming to face this new beginning while still reeling from holiday exhaustion. The urge to hide under a blanket like a turtle tucked into its shell is very strong. Instead, consider employing some self-kindness and using these gentle ways to bring yourself out of the January slump.
Here are 5 kind and gentle ways to pull yourself out of the turtle shell and battle post-holiday burnout so that you can give yourself a joyful and productive January:
Check in with Yourself & Set Intentions
January can be a minefield of “shoulds.” We are inundated from every direction with societal pressure to change our bodies, houses, habits, diets, and on and on. It’s easy to get bogged down in the idea that you “should” be aiming to be a certain way.
Instead, try taking time to reflect on what you want and what you need. Approach the question of resolutions from a place of compassion and of taking care of yourself. From there, set intentions about practices you can put into place to work toward meeting those wants and needs. Think in the micro. Take baby steps to work toward supporting the habits and projects you want for yourself.
Ignore the Internet
Of all the avenues of New Year messaging, the internet is the biggest bully. If your social media feed is anything like mine, on January 1st, the suggested posts turn to a field of borderline predatory content designed to pick at your greatest insecurities and try to sell you products and programs to address them. Social media is one of the most notorious manufacturers of the dreaded “shoulds.” But these pressures are ineffective because they invite you to make goals based on feeling badly about yourself. Drawing motivation from negative ideas about yourself is a slippery slope to feeling down, disheartened, and ultimately having failure to launch. Ignore the internet!
Give Yourself Permission to Rest
Are you feeling exhausted? Burnt out? Low on motivation? These are messages from your body. You’ve just been through a months-long marathon. Your brain and body need rest. Listen to their call. Of course, I’m not saying go full turtle. But there is no shame in making time to rest! Set aside time to curl up under a blanket with a book or movie. Schedule adult nap times in your calendar. Choose to set a Saturday or two aside for a quiet day at home with nothing on the social calendar. Take this time to recharge your batteries.
Identify What Brings you Joy and Make Time for it
The flipside of resting is finding and practicing things that boost your energy. While you are busy reflecting on what you want and need, also take some time to think about what fills your cup. Which hobbies, projects, exercises, and activities make you happy? Which relationships bring you energy? Make a list of these things and be intentional about making time for them. Help bring yourself out of your post-holiday slump by scheduling some joyful energy boosts into your weekly plans.
Plan Something to Look Forward To
I’ve always felt a bit of the blues at the end of the holiday season. There’s a bit of whiplash in going from the constant string of joyful events back to the monotony of the mundane. Combat this by looking ahead into the calendar and giving yourself things to look forward to. Plan a date night for yourself and your partner. Schedule some day trips for you and your family to meet friends or family at a museum. Find an easy local getaway for the whole family that can brighten up a weekend in February. Plan coffee dates with friends. Help combat the cold slog of January with some excitement to count down to.
The holidays are wonderful. And, the holidays are tiring. Be kind and gentle to yourself as you head into January. Prioritize rest! Prioritize joy! Set your focus on meeting your needs and calibrate your intentions to serve you. Happy (gentle) New Year!
