Feeling Post-Holiday Blues? 5 Tips to Ease Back into Routine

Some people easily adapt to changes and transitions, shifting effortlessly from holidays and vacations back to daily routines without much struggle. But for others, returning to normal after the holidays can be quite challenging. Although they go back to work and seem to function daily, they feel genuinely uncomfortable, getting irritable and even a bit anxious. If you find yourself in this second group (like many others), this article is for you. We've gathered five tips to significantly ease your transition back to the wonderful everyday grind:

1. Lists

Don't underestimate the power of simple lists. If you haven't done this yet, grab a piece of paper and a pen and jot down everything you put off for "after the holiday." Doctor appointments, assessments, shopping, returns—anything that comes to mind. This straightforward act of writing things down will organize your thoughts and ease that sense of emotional overload. If there are many tasks, divide them by day of the week based on urgency.

2. Identify the Challenge

Consider what exactly is tough for you—waking up early in the morning? Returning to work? Or is it the sudden quiet at home after getting used to constant noise? Write down your main challenge and try to accept it. Once you acknowledge the difficulty, half of it will disappear, and the other half will be much easier to handle.

3. Gradual Adjustment

If early morning wake-up is your main issue, try going to bed fifteen minutes earlier each night. This applies to children, too, who might struggle with returning to regular sleep schedules after late nights during the holidays. Within a few days, your body should readjust to "normal" sleeping and waking hours. To ease the transition, add a few minutes of rest during the day. Still having trouble waking up? Spend five minutes in the sun each morning. Morning sunlight exposure helps regulate your biological clock and makes waking up easier—and it also lifts your spirits, so it's a win-win.

4. Introduce Something Exciting

If your struggle is with routine itself, find one thing that excites you and add it to your schedule. It could be a new hobby you've picked up recently but haven't had time for, or a much-postponed meetup with friends. Now is the perfect time to make it happen.

The holiday season is intense, stimulating all the senses. We move from uplifting prayers at the synagogue to experience-filled trips, large feasts, and constant hosting. Some love it, some not so much, but the transition from holiday to routine, however wonderful it may be, can be challenging. Do yourself a favor and take it easy.

5. Use Music

Though we are in the midst of the counting of the Omer, so it might not be the best to blast loud music, even gentle vocal music can do wonders for lifting your mood. Give it a try.

And lastly, if you're really missing the holidays and still struggling with the return to routine, remember—there's another joyful, holy holiday full of mitzvot, uplifting prayers, and family feasts just around the corner. Something to look forward to.