Easing the Post Holiday Blues

By Jessica Predy, BA Theraputic Recreation Therapy

After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, January can sometimes present quite a different feeling. This is referred to as the “January Blues”- a period after the holidays that Canadian Mental Health Association (2020) describes as temporarily experiencing low emotions alongside changes in energy, motivation, or even sleeping and eating habits. With shorter hours of daylight, colder weather which keeps us indoors, and often a calendar less full of exciting social engagements, it is a possibility that people may experience mood changes. For many, the holidays can also be a stressful or exhausting time; leading to burnout or other health challenges. There are a handful of things we can do to help address feeling a bit “blue”, such as getting as much natural sunlight as possible, being physically active for at least 15 minutes every day, talking with a friend and eating healthy foods. There is also another option that may be appealing: Trying something new.

Something we know about our brains is that they have plasticity. What this means is they are consistently being molded or changed throughout our life due to various factors and experiences. Some research proposes that continual learning, be it a new hobby, physical activity, or even a new language, can be associated with longer, healthier lives and suggest that personal development can positively impact self-esteem; promoting overall well-being and an increased ability to cope with adversity (Schuller et al., 2004). In addition, seniors who often experience stress, depression, and social isolation after their transition to long term care, have been shown to experience physical and cognitive benefits as well as social connectivity through learning and engaging in new activities, leading to reductions in negative mental health symptoms (Kluge, 2014). It’s never too late to try something new!

That said, trying and learning new things can offer many benefits, but how do we get started? Take a quick inventory of interests or things that you have wanted to try. Consider a reasonable amount of time you can dedicate each day or week. This could vary greatly by task or be entirely dependent on your schedule. The amount of time you dedicate will be reflective of your chosen activity and should be achievable, to make sure you are not taking on more than you can manage and will increase your ability to engage on a regular basis. It could be something as simple as reading a beginners guide for 10 minutes a day to learn how to get started on that herb garden you’ve always wanted.

What happens if you cannot think of something to try? Start at your local library- It’s the perfect place to “shop” for ideas. Look around and see what interests you or inquire if they are offering any workshops. Libraries often offer short-term or drop-in classes like learning to use technology, travel planning, or genealogy support and are free for library card holders. Another wonderful way to get started is to simply have some discussions with your favorite people and family! Maybe your kids are interested in learning a new card game to play or your partner wants to learn how to cook food from their culture. It has also been shown that sharing your interests or plans with others or finding a partner to join you, can help boost motivation and provide an added layer of support which may reduce potential constraints, increasing the likelihood of continual engagement (McCarville & MacKay, 2013). Moreover, modeling behaviors like continual learning and trying new things can show younger generations that learning doesn’t stop as we age and is also a great opportunity to display positive coping strategies for learning, which Eisenberg et al. (2005) shares can have huge impacts on children as they mature.

Remember, it’s not about conquering something or becoming fluent, it is about discovering new things you like (or don’t like) and finding joy in new experiences. So be kind to yourself! It is also important to remind readers that January Blues are temporary. If you are experiencing changes in mood and have feelings that last longer than a few days or are having harmful thoughts, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone you trust, let your doctor know, or call the Alberta Health Mental Health Hotline at 1-877-303-2642 (a toll-free number with 27/4 access) for more support.

 References

Canadian Mental Heath Association. (2020). Winter blues vs seasonal affective disorder: What’s the difference. https://cmha.ca/news/winter-blues-101/

Eisenberg, N., Zhou, Q., Spinrad, T. L., Valiente, C., Fabes, R. A., & Liew, J. (2005). Relations among positive parenting, children's effortful control, and externalizing problems: A three-wave longitudinal study. Child Development, 76(5), 1055-1071. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2005.00897.x

Kluge, M. A. (2014). Music, Movement, and Mood: Health Promotion Classes Boost Well-Being and Create Social Bonds. Generations Journal, 38(1), 31-34. https://login.uleth.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/music-movement-mood-health-promotion-classes/docview/1509437147/se-2

McCarville, R. & MacKay, K. (2013). Leisure For Canadians (2nd Ed.). Venture Publishing, Inc.

Schuller, T., Preston, J., Hammond, C., Brassett-Grundy, A., & Bynner, J. (2004). The benefits of learning: The impact of education on health, family life and social capital. Routledge.