It isn’t just you. Millions of people suffer from the “post-holiday slump,” a well-noted phenomenon in psychological circles. Essentially, the holiday season kicks your dopamine and other feel-good chemicals into high gear as you spend time indulging in fine foods, drinking more than you probably should, and spending your hours wrapped in conversation with loved ones.
When you eventually head back to work, all those chemicals come crashing down, potentially causing you to lose focus and feel a general sense of sadness and unease. Hence, the “slump.”
If you routinely suffer from the January blues, make 2022 different. Here are a few natural ways you beat the post-holiday slump and head back to work in fine form.
Lion’s Mane Tea
Lion’s Mane is a functional mushroom with a long history of use in Eastern herbalism. In particular, Ancient Chinese Medicinal practitioners revered the Lion’s Mane mushroom for its ability to regulate mood, mitigate stress and – critically – help improve cognitive function.
If you feel cloudy or unable to concentrate this January, reach for a sachet of Lion’s Mane powder. Scientific studies support the Eastern herbalist claims that Lion’s Mane can potentially improve memory and sharped focus, making it a fantastic, natural way to improve your work performance. If you’re unsure how much Lion’s Mane can you take, consult the link provided, which has helpful information for getting started with this superfood.
Morning Exercise Outdoors
Exercise is widely regarded as a panacea for post-holiday ailments since it replenishes your body’s stores of dopamine and keeps you feeling confident and sharp.
But let’s add two new wrinkles to the standard call for exercise: do it in the morning, and do it outside. When you exercise in the morning, you set your day up for success, releasing all those feel-good chemicals before you go to work. And when you exercise outside – running around the neighbourhood or joining an outdoor yoga class – you access plenty of fresh air, which also improves concentration and general wellbeing.
A SAD Lamp
For many, the post-holiday slump has more to do with the dwindling daylight hours than anything else. Without sunshine, your body has a tricky time creating the requisite Vitamin D and serotonin.
If you sense that a lack of sunshine is responsible for your January blues, consider buying a SAD Lamp. An essential part of Light Therapy (sometimes called phototherapy), SAD Lamps replicate sunlight through broad-spectrum light, potentially elevating your mood and regulating circadian rhythms.
A Trip Planner
Finally, consider planning a trip for the summer. That’s right: planning something fun can markedly improve your mood and brain chemical output.
In neuroscience circles, this process is known as “anticipatory dopamine.” When you have something to look forward to, your brain produces feel-good chemicals. It helps to replace the high of the holiday season with something fun on the horizon (even if you don’t end up taking that trip!).
This January, get back into the work groove quickly and effortlessly by following these four natural tips. Before you know it, summer will be here.
