Finding Balance When Life Speeds Back Up
I took down the Christmas decorations over the weekend, had to grocery shop for the week and school lunches, and I got really, really, really sad and the Sunday Scaries popped up and I absolutely love my job and career.
The festive season has drawn to a close, and as the decorations come down and routines return, many of us are left with that familiar heavy feeling known as the post holiday blues. The transition from joyful, slower days back into the rhythm of everyday life can feel jarring, emotional, and even a little overwhelming. If you are feeling it this year, you are not alone.
I will be honest, I feel the post holiday blues much more intensely this year.
Part of it is the season of life I am in. I have a senior in high school, which brings a whole new layer of emotion. Life naturally slows down during the holidays, and when you are aware that things are changing, that time together feels even more meaningful. From October through the New Year this year, we did so much. Chicago with my entire family, New York City, celebrations, memories, laughter, and being fully immersed in togetherness. Then suddenly, it all stops. The calendar flips, alarms go off again, I work from home and the house will be quieter again.
That contrast feels sharper than ever.
Blue Monday and Why This Time of Year Feels So Heavy
The third Monday in January is often referred to as Blue Monday, commonly called the saddest day of the year. While the research behind it is debated, the experience of it is very real for many people.
This time of year is cold, dark, gray, and gloomy, especially for those of us living in areas where winter feels endless. The excitement of the holidays has passed, and suddenly we are left with shorter days, less sunlight, and long stretches of winter still ahead. That alone can impact mood, energy, and motivation.
On top of that, reality starts to set in. Credit card bills and expenses from holiday shopping begin to arrive, the financial stress that was easy to ignore during the festive season becomes harder to avoid, there is a pressure to reset, get organized, and “start fresh,” even when energy feels low.
Our kids are feeling it too. Many are heading into finals or major exams, navigating academic pressure right as the emotional letdown of the holidays hits. The break is over, expectations are back, and stress levels rise quickly. I hear it in my own house.
When you combine the weather, the lack of sunlight, financial stress, academic pressure, and the emotional crash after a season of connection and celebration, it makes complete sense that this time of year feels heavier. Blue Monday is not about weakness or lack of gratitude. It is about transition, nervous system overload, and the human response to contrast.
My First Memory of Post Holiday Sadness
The very first time I can remember feeling post holiday sadness, I was in fifth grade. We had gone out of town for spring break and Easter. When break was over and I was back in my classroom, I remember standing at my desk in the morning, this was back when we flipped our chairs upside down on top of our desks. I was flipping my chair back down and thinking, I do not want to be back here in this classroom.
I felt this overwhelming wave of sadness. I was not a sad kid ( I still am a very optimistic, easy going typically happy person and sadness is not a feeling I get often at all. Anxiety yeah that is normal for me,) so the sadness feeling confused me. I didn’t have language for it then, but looking back, I realize it was the same feeling many of us experience now. That abrupt return to routine after freedom, connection, and novelty. And the lights. Oh how I love Christmas lights!
Since then, it feels like every year it gets harder after holidays and vacations to return to normal life. And what is interesting is that I love my life, I love my work, my jobs, my careers, my routine, and the life we have built. But, the transition still feels hard.
I hear my kids say the same thing, they dread going back to school. I think we live in a society that goes and goes and goes. We work hard, we push through, and when we finally slow down and truly connect, it becomes difficult to jump right back into the hustle and day to day monotony.
I want to help myself navigate this season with more compassion, and I want to help my kids too. That is why I always come back to simple, grounding strategies that actually support our nervous systems.
Gentle Ways to Navigate the Post Holiday Blues
1. Acknowledge Your Feelings
It is okay to feel a little down after the holidays. Let yourself name it without judgment. This adjustment period is normal. You can appreciate the magic of the holidays while still embracing your everyday life. Both can exist at the same time.
2. Set Realistic Goals for the New Year
Instead of diving into extreme New Year resolutions, focus on realistic and supportive goals. Small steps matter. Gentle intentions often create more lasting change than pressure driven goals.
3. Maintain Social Connection
The holidays often bring more time with loved ones. As routines return, find ways to keep that connection alive. Schedule coffee dates, walks, phone calls, or simple dinners together. Connection is one of the most powerful mood regulators we have.
4. Create Something to Look Forward To
Post holiday blues often come from feeling like there is nothing on the horizon. Create small things to anticipate. A weekend plan, a class you enjoy, a movie night, a monthly tradition. Joy does not have to wait for the next big holiday.
5. Prioritize Comfort and Self Care
This season calls for softness. Reading, resting, warm meals, long showers, quiet evenings on the couch. These moments matter. They help signal safety to your nervous system during a time of transition.
6. Support Your Body Gently
Movement, nourishing food, and fresh air can help lift your mood, but this is not the season for punishment or extremes. Choose movement that feels supportive and grounding rather than draining.
7. Practice Gratitude Without Pressure
Gratitude does not mean bypassing hard feelings. A simple gratitude practice can help shift perspective while still honoring your emotions. Even noticing one small thing each day can make a difference.
8. Remember That This Season Passes
The post holiday blues don’t last forever. This is a temporary emotional season, not a permanent state. With time, light, routine, and support, energy and motivation naturally return.
* If you feel like this is more than post holiday blues, please reach out to a professional!
If you are feeling the post holiday blues this year, especially around Blue Monday, know that it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you or your life. It often means you experienced deep connection, rest, and presence, and your system is adjusting back.
This season invites us to move slower, offer ourselves compassion, and create balance instead of rushing ourselves forward. One gentle day at a time is enough.
Nikki Lanigan
Nikki Lanigan is a yoga, HIIT, and Barre instructor, she is also a Holistic Health Coach through Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Nikki is trained in Yoga Shred, Yoga Psychology, meditation, chakra balancing, and EFT/Tapping. She has done trainings with Sadie Nardini and Ashley Turner. She got her 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2017 at the Carrie Treister School Of Yoga. Nikki takes a holistic view of health, helping her students and clients reach a place of self-love not just through movement, but with mindset and lifestyle guidance as well. Nikki is also show prep writer for The McVay Media Show Prep and host of the podcast Fit, Fun, and Frazzled. Connect with Nikki on Instagram. www.instagram.com/nikkilanigan.yogaandwellness www.instagram.com/fitfunandfrazzledpodcast
