It's that time of year again—the beginning. 

Time for us to feel energized enough to tackle our New Year's Resolutions while also crashing down from the holiday bliss. 

The holiday season has many holidays to enjoy and share time with family and friends. Unfortunately, it's fast-paced, fun, and too short. Many of us return to work during the first week of January, leaving us tired, hungover, and resentful. We've been thrown off our routine for some time now, so returning to reality can be difficult. 

However, it doesn't have to be that way. 

Check out these five daily recommendations to help you get through your week back to work and elevate your mood. 

Do Something That You Enjoy Directly After Work

Take some time to yourself as soon as you get home from work, or log off your computer. It can take 5 or 10 minutes to do something enjoyable to take your mind off the work day and help you unwind. 

If you love reading, make sure before you leave for work you put your book in an easy-to-access place or keep it in your car. If your household is busy and you're likely to put off doing something for yourself, then prioritize it before the distractions come in; read in your car. 

It may seem funny to think that way, but we must take time for ourselves daily. It doesn't have to be prolonged if you don't have the time for it, but you need to do it, or you'll get burnt out and be counting down until your next break. 

Disconnect

Turn off your phone or social media. Seriously, do it. 

After the holidays, social networks are flooded with overly optimistic content. Your cousin got engaged, your high-school friend just won a baking competition, or your neighbor got a promotion. 

Although you may be genuinely happy for these people and their accomplishments, it can be overwhelming once you've returned to normalcy. As everyone else still appears joyful and enjoying the holiday ride, you're struggling to get through your first week back with your overbearing boss. 

Seeing images of perfect, happy people on social media can have adverse effects and may increase your anxiety. Therefore, feeling overwhelmed is perfectly acceptable, so take a step back and refocus on the now. 

Be Active

Working out can be an excellent outlet for reducing stress and refocusing your mind. It can be as simple as a short walk or an intense interval training session. 

Being physically active can provide immediate benefits, including reduced short-term feelings of anxiety. It can also help with establishing a routine and gaining a sense of control over your day. 

Prioritize Your Sleep Schedule

Sleep can have many health benefits, including assisting to lower your stress and improve your mood. Unfortunately, the busy holiday season can often result in changed sleep schedules or all-nighters, especially on New Year's. So when you're not sleeping well, your mind and body will notice. 

Therefore, it's essential to set a sleep schedule post-holidays and stick to it. The term "biological clock" has been a joke for years, but it has some truth. Our bodies naturally thrive when they rise in the morning and get sleepy at night. So, a sleep schedule that aligns with our body's natural rhythm can help you feel better and get you out of your current slump. 

References:

Berger Michele W. Berger Writer , M. W. (2018, November 9). Social media use increases depression and loneliness. Penn Today. Retrieved from https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/social-media-use-increases-depression-and-loneliness