OMG, we’re already well into the second half of January! I’ve been on a blogging AND social media break for over a month, and I have to say, it felt pretty awesome to take some time for just me and my family. Having said that, I ALWAYS miss writing and hearing from dear readers, so I also missed you and feel excited to get back to a more normal routine.
So how does one go about doing that?
And what is a normal routine anyway?
I wish I knew!
I do know that for most of us, some sort of routine is important, so getting back into one matters. Trouble is, once you break the rhythm of your normal routine, it can be really hard to get back in step. (Or is it just me?)
Post-holidays, it can all feel overwhelming, am I right? And I do mean ALL of it. For starters, there are all those decorations to put away. (Are yours put away? All of mine are not!) Even that task can feel like too much to tackle.
And then, there’s pressure to make resolutions, set goals, pick words to live by, organize your closets and just DO better. BE better. The underlying message is that you aren’t good enough. News flash. You are!
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I ditched making resolutions and picking guide word(s) a few years back. I admire folks who do those things, but I don’t find doing either helpful or motivating.
For some reason, goal setting works better for me. Making affirmations seems more fitting and doable, too.
And, please remember you don’t need to feel like you should be one of those, I’m just gonna say it — annoying — over-achieving cancer patients/survivors.
This doesn’t mean you should just sit back and forget about making changes, trying to start/maintain new or healthier habits, or attempting to improve your productivity.
No, it just means start the new year your way too.
Like I always say, be real. Be You. It’s enough. So start, and do, 2024 your way too.
Back to the topic at hand…
Again, I don’t necessarily have the answers for how YOU should get back into a post-holiday routine, but I’m offering a few suggestions that might help. Or not. You decide.
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5 Tips for getting back into a routine post holidays
- Ease into your day with a morning ritual that makes you happy.
Starting the day off on a positive note — whatever that might be for you — is important. For me, this means starting my day enjoying my morning coffee. Uninterrupted. Nothing much else gets done until this happens.
2. Tackle the stuff you don’t enjoy doing (like cleaning out those closets perhaps?) in small chunks and do so when you feel most energetic, productive, and motivated.
For some of us, this means early in the day. For others, it might mean later. Do what works for YOU. Also, sometimes it’s helpful to set aside specific blocks of times each day to do chores you don’t like doing. This way, they become part of your routine and things don’t pile up as fast up on that to-do list.
3. Find time during your day to do things you enjoy doing — including doing NOTHING!
You don’t have to have a to-do list a mile long. In fact, you don’t need a list at all unless you want one. (I do not.) A day without doing a thing or two that you enjoy isn’t going to feel as satisfying, no matter how much other stuff you get done.
Like usual, it’s about finding balance between work stuff and fun stuff. For someone like me who enjoys the work of writing, it sometimes means forcing myself to move away from my laptop and even my phone.
So, even if you love your work, take time away from it every day. Again, that balance thing. Make breaks part of your routine too.
4. Try to squeeze in movement EVERY day, so it becomes a habit too. Doing so helps everything else fall into place.
We all know how important movement (okay, exercise) is — regardless of your age, weight, health and/or cancer treatment status, or whatever. We need to move, and we all know it. But doing it, or getting back into the routine of doing it, isn’t always as easy as just doing it.
Like I’ve said before, if all you’re feeling up to is sitting in a chair and taking deep breaths in and exhaling them out — start with that. All movement matters.
For further tips on putting more movement into your life, read this one: 👉 Do You Hate to Exercise? 14 Strategies to Help Motivate!
And, what about winter movement?
Believe me, I get that it can be more challenging during winter months. Boy, do I! Recently, I got back from vacation (goodbye warmer temps) and no kidding, my driveway was literally covered in a thick sheet of ice that made it hard to even stand up. Ugh! How are you supposed to navigate that?
So, how do you cope with winter walking? ❄️ Ditch the Excuses — 7 Tips for Winter Walks! ❄️
5. Start small, start slow, don’t compare, be kind to and ALWAYS forgive yourself. And, ditch the guilt!
As far as movement goes, stop comparing yourself to your friend who rises at dawn to run five miles or your cousin the tri-athlete. You are not them, you are you. Take care of yourself both physically and mentally, and this starts with offering yourself kindness and respect too.
No matter what you’re trying to start or accomplish, sometimes thinking small works best. Small steps, small accomplishments matter too. So while others might suggest thinking big, I say, go ahead and think small!
Remember, each day is a fresh start. Heck, each hour is! Starting over — as many times as it takes — is just fine. It’s just another kind of perseverance, right?
Something you might consider adding to your daily (or weekly) routine is journaling. It just so happens, I recently put together a new freebie. It’s an eBook that includes suggestions and journaling prompts to help you get started.
Here are a few of my prompts:
- Are you more of an introvert or extravert?
- Did cancer make you a better person?
- What is a secret you carry?
- What’s your mood right now, this minute?
What do you think?
For journaling tips and more prompts…
Grab your FREE copy of Journaling – tips & prompts to help get you started. All you have to do is head to my Resource Library, and it’s right there ready for you to download.
Lastly, be sure to share what helps YOU get back to a more “normal” routine when you find yourself out of sync any time of year — or any time of day — for that matter. Readers always have the best tips!
Happy New Year, friend!
May 2024 be kind to us all.
If you like this post, pass it along to a friend.
What tip(s) do you have that help you get back into a more normal routine when you are out of sync?
Do you journal regularly — or at all — or have you ever?
Note from Nancy: This post was first published in 2023, and has since been updated. I wrote about cancer language, cancer worry, survivor guilt, loss, pet grief, COVID-19, DIEP flap surgery, life as an introvert, aging, resiliency, and more in EMERGING. Available at Amazon and most other online booksellers. Click on the image below to order your copy today!
Beth L. Gainer
Friday 26th of January 2024
Nancy, great, timely post. The post-holiday recovery is difficult because I love to eat all the things during the holidays that are not healthy for me. However, I do believe it's not good to deprive oneself of delicious food either.
I work out regularly at my gym, so the winter isn't really an issue for me. And I'm lucky that the gym is a park district one -- people with all body types go there. No meat market for me! I don't compare myself with others; I just compare myself with my own abilities.
I also don't make resolutions. I just try to work on myself physically and mentally throughout the year.
I do journal regularly and find that journaling helps me emotionally. In addition, listing what I'm grateful for helps my psyche.
And, like you, I love my coffee in the morning!
JEnny
Tuesday 31st of January 2023
I've not found it too bad this year getting back into a routine, I was actually really looking forward to it because I always get a bit bored in that gap between Christmas and New Year! Last year however, it took me about 2 and a half weeks to get back to "normal", it was a nightmare haha!
Nancy
Tuesday 31st of January 2023
Jenny, I'm still not completely back into my "normal" routine, but hey, that's okay. I'm getting there. I always love that week between Christmas and New Year's. I love the in-between-ness of it. All the hustle and bustle is done - a time to relax, reflect, or do nothing at all. Thank you for stopping by.
Fransic verso
Sunday 29th of January 2023
Great tips and something I'm working on is tackling things that I don't want to do. And to have a better morning. Thank you for sharing these lovely tips!
Nancy
Monday 30th of January 2023
Fransic, Thank you for sharing what you're working on.
jackie
Thursday 19th of January 2023
Thank you - wishing you the best, always!
Nancy
Thursday 19th of January 2023
Jackie, Thank you so much. Wishing you the best too!
Linda
Wednesday 18th of January 2023
I've always been a bit down when the holidays end, but the last few years have been harder. And all this stuff to put away! A friend suggested I give myself till Valentines day!
Nancy
Thursday 19th of January 2023
Linda, I think many of us have that let down feeling post holidays. There's so much going on before in the getting ready for them, how could there not be? I take my time putting things away, and I leave my Snow Village out till the end of February, so that helps. I think your friend is very wise. Thank you for sharing. Happy new year to you and yours! x