by Kelly Beischel PhD, RN, CNE

Post-holiday depression or what I like to call post-holiday funk is more common than you might think. Unfortunately, I know all too well that this funk can really wreak havoc on preparation for the spring semester. tired, sleeping scaled

In the event you find yourself in the midst of this post-holiday funk…

Try these strategies to regain your positive mojo.

1. Be Gentle with Your Resolutions.

Did you know that only 8% of people who set resolutions actually achieve them? We’re doomed to fail when we create nebulous resolutions that lack measurable goals. And we hurt our chances of success when the resolution is unrealistic like losing 10 pounds in a week.

Baby steps. Baby steps. Your brain is happy when we meet goals we’ve set. And a happy brain increases our motivation to keep moving toward our goals.

2. Dance to the Music.

Plug in your iPod, iPhone, CD player, or record player, play your favorite music and get dancing. Nothing improves my mood like music and dancing. What’s your go to? What instantly brings you energy?

Do that.

3. Plan your fun.

My sons, Luke and Will, were in town over the holidays. Our house was full of energy and laughter. But it comes to an end. Planning fun can ease the emptiness of facing an empty house. I’m glad I had pre-planned an evening out with my husband because I, indeed, felt a stark void when they left.

4. Make Healthy Choices.

It’s well documented that adequate sleep and nutritious food improves your energy. Investigate your barriers to getting good sleep and eating nutritious food. Would buying a new, fluffy, down comforter or yummy soft sheets entice you to get to bed?

Too busy to eat well? How about slicing up vegetables and fruit on Sundays and placing them in individual containers. They’ll be ready to go when you’re busy and running out the door.

5. Get Moving.

It’s easy to forsake exercise at this time of year. It’s cold (-3 degrees right now in Cincinnati). Who wants to go out in that kind of cold? It gets dark sooner too. I know all of the excuses because I’ve used them all.

But we know that exercise charges our brains with a boost of endorphins. In turn, the endorphin boost improves our mood. It’s really that simple.

How to get moving?

  • Ask a friend to walk with you.
  • Commit to set times and dates and resist letting each other back out.
  • Take a new dance or exercise class. Living Social constantly offers exercise classes for reduced fees.
  • Ask a friend to join you and take a new class.
  • Walk in place.
  • Run steps.
  • Crank up your favorite music and dance.

6. Visit Your Why.

I don’t know about you but I am a freak about needing goals to motivate me. I need a purpose. When I’m in a post-holiday funk and resist jumping in to prep my courses I go back to my why.

Similarly, if my mood stifles my motivation to write my newsletter, reach out to you on social media, or create teleseminars and workshops for you, I go back to my WHY for creating Dr. B. Presents, to my purpose for doing the work.

Thinking of your desire to improve student learning and determining how I might support you in that endeavor, buoys my energy and throws me back on track.

7. Be Positively Expectant.

This has never been so true as it is today. We are constantly bombarded with negative news. Gloom and doom is everywhere. Wouldn’t you agree? Choosing to be positively expectant, expecting things to go well, propels your energy.

Being positively expectant isn’t about denying reality but rather, creating the reality you want with your expectations. I’ve been reading about how our expectations affect our brains from a neuroscience perspective.

Fascinating stuff.

I’ll report more about what I’m learning in another article. It’s easy to get into a post-holiday funk. Thank goodness, there are many ways to pull ourselves out of it. I’ve suggested a few here.

What have you found to be effective? Let us know below for a chance to win John Medina’s book, Brain Rules.