5 Keys to Help You Get Back to Your Daily Routine After Christmas

5 Keys to Help You Get Back to Your Daily Routine After Christmas
Gema Sánchez Cuevas

Written and verified by the psychologist Gema Sánchez Cuevas.

Last update: 21 February, 2022

December is a wonderful time of year. There’s lights, gifts, and family gatherings we enjoy. We live intimate and exciting moments. However, all good things must come to an end. It can be hard to get back to your daily routine, but we should not let it restrict us.

Just thinking about going back to work makes us feel sad. After two weeks of celebration and fun, we have to open our eyes to the real world. January is the most miserable month of the year, but it can also be full of new opportunities.

It’s the end of a year, but also the beginning of another. Who knows what adventures may be waiting for us? We’ll possibly experience unforgettable moments. It seems hard to think about going back to your regular routine, but you should look at the bright side.

The first thing we must do is establish some keys to get back to our daily routine after Christmas. If we follow them, we’ll soon notice how a renewed energy invades our being and fills us up with a healthy and motivating optimism.

A woman sad because of her daily routine.

5 keys to help you get back to your daily routine after Christmas

Make a list of resolutions

Resolution lists are a good way to motivate yourself. List all the things you want to achieve and focus on making them happen. Keep in mind that it’s not worth throwing in the towel at the first inconvenience.

Sometimes, you’ll have to make sacrifices and it’ll take time to see the results. However, that doesn’t mean that you’re not going to make it. Be patient and tenacious, and you’ll achieve everything you propose.

“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment; full effort is full victory.”

-Mahatma Gandhi-

Learn to take care of yourself

You should start thinking about your health now that it’s a new year. That doesn’t mean that you should obsess over food or exercise. What you should do is learn healthy recipes, start doing a physical activity, and practice breathing exercises.

Little by little, you’ll begin to feel better and more optimistic internally and your body will experience those changes externally. If you have to go to a specialist for advice, don’t hesitate to do so. Doctors, psychologists, and nutritionists can create personalized guidelines for each situation.

A woman on a run.

Establish a sleeping schedule

Going back to your daily routine after Christmas can affect your sleeping schedule. Being on vacation makes us change our bedtime, which has consequences when we return to our normal lives.

Try not to make the change too abrupt. Try to go to bed a few hours before, even if you can’t keep your eyes closed. It’s normal if it takes you a long time to fall asleep since your body needs to get used to your regular schedule.

Train your mind

You have to keep your mind active . Going back to your routine after Christmas also means re-tuning your brain. If it hasn’t been exercised for a long time, it’ll weaken. Get used to keeping it agile and ready at all times.

You can take advantage of the new year by signing up for language classes, reading books on a topic you like, or even doing cognitive stimulation exercises. It’s never too early to start training our mind.

See life from another perspective

Do you feel sad and discouraged by January’s arrival? Don’t worry, it happens to 90% of the people around you. It’s true that we’ve lived intense and beautiful moments, but soon you’ll experience even better ones. Don’t focus on the negative, only on the positive.

A happy woman.

Try to be outdoors for at least one hour a day. It will improve your mood and make you forget about your problems for a while. Don’t think too much about the past, because it’s already gone, and not too much about the future, because it hasn’t arrived yet. Just live in the present and appreciate all the good things you experience every day.

It’s normal to feel sadness or apathy during these specific moments. The only way to deal with these emotions is by fighting. Don’t let yourself get depressed because of this. Take refuge in things that make you happy during your free time, disconnect your phone, and unwind with family and friends.

Being positive, playing sports, and maintaining healthy habits will help you cope. In just a few weeks, your life will be the same again!


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.