Dealing with ‘Post-Holiday Blues’

When we enjoy a holiday, especially in the sun and often spending time with friends or family, we receive a boost of dopamine and serotonin—two feel-good hormones. But, when the holiday ends, so too does the mood boost. This can feel disorienting, and may trigger the post-holiday blues. The symptoms of the post-holiday blues—including sadness, lack of motivation, sleep disturbances, or irritability—can be similar to those of clinical depression, so it’s important to keep track of how long you’ve been feeling low after the holidays. If any feelings of post-holiday blues begin impacting your daily functioning, like making it hard to get out of bed, go to work or school, leave the house, spend time with others, or accomplish small tasks, it may be worth reaching out for help or talking to someone. How can we beat the post-holiday blues? (Or, at least, manage them better!) Here are some simple tips that can make a big difference.