The holidays are all about family gatherings, limitless food and drinks, countless parties, and all the other excitement. However, it’s also about mingling awkwardly with distant relatives, shopping for endless gifts and wrapping them, decorating the entire house, cooking for the whole family, and all the other tiresome activities. When everything is over, you’ll be drained—financially, mentally, and physically.
When the mind and body are in a constant rush, it can take a toll on one’s health. Unfortunately, it seems like you can only remain stress-free in this season if you do nothing. But with the pressure to do what everybody else does, that seems impossible. So what should you do?
You need to plan out how to focus on your recovery when the holidays are over. You’ll need to find some balance and return to your regular routine. However, that could prove to be challenging when you’re already exhausted with all the pre-Christmas planning and organizing. If this is the case, let this article help you find ways to get back into shape once all the festivities simmer down. Here are some handy tips on how you can focus on your recovery after the holidays.
Create a Recovery Schedule
Yes, you’re tired. You don’t have to plan your recovery time. However, you can simply pick a date for when you can start to recover.
As early as now, choose a date for when you can set aside some time for yourself and take a good rest. And this is not just about sleeping longer than usual. This is about some quality time for yourself. If your schedule permits, it can be a day or two or a whole week.
You can plan it out throughout the holidays with a date in mind. You can also add relaxation activities that will be part of your recovery time.
For example, you can go to a spa and get some head-to-toe pampering. You can go to a small restaurant or coffee shop and spend a day reading a book in a corner. Also, you can go to a highly trained massage therapist to loosen up your tense muscles. Add anything to your plan that will help you get yourself back.
Here’s another tip. Make this ritual a habit whenever you are faced with disruptions in your routine. Whether you’re going on a quick trip or an extended vacation, plan out your recovery time. It’ll be much easier to return to your work or routine if you do.
With a recovery schedule all set, here’s what you can add to your plan.
Add These to Your Diet
According to the health and wellness brand Eat This, Not That, add more green tea, apples, fiber, and protein to your diet.
Green tea contains antioxidants that accelerate the bodily process of turning fat into energy and releasing fat from fat cells. Fiber and protein, meanwhile, can help regulate blood sugar levels. They also keep you feeling fuller longer, lessening the likelihood of overeating.
Apples contain antioxidants, too, but they act differently from the ones found in green tea. Antioxidants in apples help lower cholesterol levels, minimizing the risk of heart disease. Apples contain lots of fiber, too.
Pause Spending Temporarily
It’s common for people to overspend during the holidays. All the gift-giving and celebrations can be financially draining.
Allow your wallet to recover for a while. Avoid spending on big, unnecessary expenses for at least a week. Groceries, of course, are essentials. You can go ahead spend on them as needed. What you can do, however, is to stop or take a break from using your credit card.
Use this time to pay off your holiday shopping debt first or reduce it. You’ll be able to visualize your payment progress if you do. You’ll also increase your credit score, so it’s a win-win.
In the meantime, stick to checks, cash, and debit cards until your balance is paid or minimized.
Start or Resume an Exercise Routine
Because of all the holiday rush, it’s easy to put aside your active lifestyle if you have one. Now is the time to resume it or learn something new. In fact, according to Mayo Clinic, regular physical activity, even yoga, can reduce holiday-related stress. It’ll also enable you to cope with the strain that the holidays are putting on your shoulder.
Moreover, according to the Mayo Clinic, you shouldn’t abandon your healthy habits, even during the holidays.
Get Back to Your Normal Routine
The pandemic has taught the world many things. One of them is that disruptions in regular routines can cause stress, anxiety, and depression. To make your recovery plan successful, you need to get back to your usual daily schedule.
Now, you have a recovery plan. Make sure to follow it so that you’ll have less stress during the holidays.
