5 Ways to Combat a Holiday Hangover

From happy holidays, to sad and stressed. A hangover doesn’t just have to be the result of a long night of drinking. Sometimes you can suffer one from days of sugar overload, the stress of family bickering and drama, and the nonstop running around the holiday season entails.

So what happens when the leftovers are eaten, the presents are put away and the relatives are back on their merry way?According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 24% of people with a diagnosed mental illness find that the holidays make their condition “a lot” worse and 40% “somewhat” worse,” which means that post-holiday burnout is very much a real thing. 

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But we’re here to help you turn that frown upside-down, and stop post-holiday sadness in its tracks. Here are 5 ways to combat a holiday hangover.

1. Quiet the mind

When the holiday dust settles, you’re so accustomed to the chaos of the past few weeks, that it can be hard to quiet the mind and settle back into a normal routine. It’s important to take a few minutes a day to meditate, journal, take a candlelit bath, go for a walk in the fresh air, or even just sit, close your eyes, and enjoy the peace and quiet.

2. Have a family game night

The best way to forget about your troubles is to live in the moment and engage in some mindless fun. Set up a family Monopoly night, charades, a scavenger hunt, or other fun activity that gets everyone laughing (and off their screens) and having fun, without the pressures the holiday gatherings brought.

3. Drink more water

You’ve spent the last several days in a food coma, and now you feel like absolute sh*t. Too much holiday imbibing leads to dehydration, which can also make you feel more tired and down than usual.

Try to remember to get those 8 cups of water a day, and add a splash of lemon for a little extra dose of antioxidants. If you have a hard time remembering to drink, try wearing 8 hair ties or stackable bracelets on one wrist, and each time you drink a glass, move it over to the other wrist.

4. Declutter your house

Sometimes clearing the clutter can be just what the doctor ordered. Why wait till spring to spring clean? Put away those decorations and organize areas that cause you unnecessary stress, like that pantry, coat closet or that Tupperware cabinet. Chances are, you’ll feel a lot better when the job is done. As a bonus, when you’re focused on organizing, you can’t focus on feeling blue.

5. Take a nap!

An often underrated stress reducer is sleep! Lack of it can send the body into flight or fight mode, releasing more of the stress hormone cortisol.

Give yourself a break, and allow yourself a little midday snooze. This will not only help you feel calmer, but also regulate your moods and make you happier overall.

While you’re at it, treat yourself to a new pillow or weighted blanket in all those post-holiday sales. Now you’re sailing into the New Year stress-free!