It’s that time of year again: post-holiday blues. I did some reading on why we feel this way after the holiday season. Is it January? Is it winter? Is it no longer having anything to look forward to? Is it financial stress?
The simple answer is: yes. All of the above.
During this time of year, we tend to stay indoors more, there’s less sunlight, it’s cold, it’s dark, and we lead busy lifestyles. All of this adds up to the weakening of our immune systems and ultimately getting sick.
So how can we combat this? Living off of Christmas cookies and drinking wine won’t suffice (although…it’s totally okay to do that sometimes).
I’ve gathered some tips and tricks below to help you maintain proper health and nutrition to stay healthy as you navigate through post-holiday depression season.
1. Fresh air
That’s tough to hear. That’s tough for me to hear. If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know I spent 5 years in Minot, ND. -60° wind chills did not call for getting fresh air. Ever. But the thing about living somewhere extremely cold is that it really taught me to be a bit more tough in that regard. I had to face the outside sometimes (and no, that was not the norm–but it was the coldest I’d ever experienced there). Luckily for me, I now live in Kentucky, where the coldest it got so far was a real feel of 4°. Still cold. Still unappealing to someone like myself who craves warmth and sunlight. But did you know the benefits of getting fresh air? It can literally help clear out your lungs because the air inside, no matter the amount of houseplants, just doesn’t compare to the open air outside. Fresh air also offers the ability to lower blood pressure and heart rate. Now I’m not suggesting you have to bundle up and go hiking (unless that’s your thing), but breathing in some good ol’ brisk air might really help you in the long run.
2. Supplements
I used to think that people took supplements because they had poor diets. And while this can surely help with gaps in diet, the reason for supplements in the winter is simple: less sun, less outdoor time, less Vitamin D. Vitamin D is produced when our bodies are exposed to direct sunlight, but its main functions are regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorous, and keeping our immune systems functioning properly.
Another important vitamin is Vitamin C. Because Vitamin C isn’t stored in the body, we must take it daily through food or supplements. It is a very powerful antioxidant which can help strengthen our body’s natural defenses. This can result in helping with reducing the risk of chronic disease, managing high blood pressure, and lowering the risk of heart disease, to name a few. When choosing supplements, make sure to take all-natural products that offer you top notch benefits. This month I’m featuring Plexus Immune Plus. Immune Plus features a nature-inspired formula that primes, supports, and maintains the body’s immune system response, with Vitamin C (100% daily value), Prebiotic Mushroom Extracts, Black Rice Extract, and an Antioxidant-Rich Superfood Blend.
3. Sleep
I know we’ve heard this a million times. Work 8 hours, sleep 8 hours, and make sure they’re not the same 8 hours. It sounds so simple broken down like this, right? I’m a mother to two young kids, recently took on a second job, and am starting up full time online classes next week. I don’t think I’ll be sleeping 8 hours, to be honest, but my goal is certainly 6-7. To put it very simply: sleep is when your body can rest, relax, and heal. If you deprive it from these things, you suffer from many issues–one of which being your mental health. If your brain is anything like mine, it is always going and always worrying about to-do lists. If you don’t allow your body to rest, your ability to problem solve, retain information, and concentrate are severely affected. While I’d like to say sleep is free, I know that’s not true. Sleep is time and we sacrifice something in order to maintain a good sleep schedule. However, if there is one thing that should never be sacrificed–it is sleep.
4. Proper Nutrition
I was going to put exercise as the fourth point, but I really thought about in my busy schedule when I could possibly manage time for it. Some people prioritize it–and if you’re one of those people, that’s great! However, not all of us have time or want to make time, but all of us do need to eat. As most of the points above claim, eating healthy also reduces the risk of some diseases, lowers high blood pressure, increases energy, and allows the body to heal. We all know this. The hard part isn’t knowing the benefits, it’s putting it into practice. Meal prepping, packing lunches, and sharing the responsibility of cooking meals will keep you on track with your nutrition goals. Meal planning is another great way to stay on track. When you know what to shop for, know what days you’re making what, then it isn’t stressful.
Our bodies can only work off of what we fuel them with. If you want to have a healthy body, give it healthy foods, supplements, and allow it to rest and repair. Find a friend, hold each other accountable. Find groups to integrate with to get out of the house, get out of routines, socialize, and keep your mind healthy too. Health works from the inside out.
Do you have any tips or tricks to help with post-holiday depression? Let me know in the comments.
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