Seven tips for coping with the winter holiday blues

Today is Blue Monday, often called the saddest day of the year.

The period after the winter holiday can often leave you feeling deflated and lonely. With all the holiday decorations put away and back to everyday routines, we can feel a sense of emptiness. We know that these feelings are usually normal, but here are seven tips for coping with the winter holiday blues:

Connect with friends or family 
Holidays are a time when people come together, so when they are over, we can be left feeling disconnected. Getting in touch with your friends and family can help you to feel connected and not alone. Letting family and close friends know what you’re going through can be very helpful.

Get enough sleep
The holidays can often affect our sleep. It’s important to get enough sleep every day, not only to maintain mental health, but also to help prevent chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes or high blood pressure.

Schedule time for fun
Social interaction is very important for our well-being. Filling up your time with activities you enjoy will give you things to look forward to. Doing fun activities, especially with friends or family can give you a much-needed boost.

Try something new
Planning activities is a good way maintain your mental health. You can stick to something tried and tested, like going to your favourite restaurant or a games night with friends. But you could also try a new activity, like trying a new recipe at home or learning an instrument.

Eat well
Eating a healthy diet can do a lot to improve your mood and sense of well-being. Improving your diet can help to improve your mood and give you more energy.

Get active
Getting active and doing exercise can improve your mental health. For example, it can help with improving your mood, increasing your energy, managing stress and anxiety. It will also give you something to focus on.

Be nice to yourself
Remember to be nice to yourself. Being nice to yourself can help reduce anxiety, stress and improve your mental well-being. There are many ways to be kind to yourself. So why not take yourself for a walk out in nature or write down five positive things about your day?