The holidays have a way of turning life upside down in both wonderful and exhausting ways. Late nights, travel, extra social time, disrupted sleep, changes in eating habits, and a break from normal responsibilities can leave even the most grounded person feeling off-balance come January.
If you’re finding it hard to “get back on track,” you’re not alone — and more importantly, you’re not failing. The problem usually isn’t a lack of motivation. It’s trying to go from holiday survival mode straight into full productivity mode overnight.
Let’s talk about how to rebuild your routine in a way that supports your mental health instead of draining it.
Start Smaller Than You Think You Should
After a break in routine, many people try to reset everything at once: early wakeups, strict meal planning, intense workouts, deep cleaning, inbox zero, and a perfectly organized calendar. That’s a fast track to burnout.
Instead, pick one or two anchor habits to start with. Think:
- Going to bed at a consistent time
- Taking a 10-minute walk each day
- Eating one balanced meal daily
- Setting a simple morning or evening wind-down ritual
Small, repeatable actions rebuild your sense of stability. Consistency matters more than intensity.
Expect Your Energy to Fluctuate
Post-holiday fatigue is real. Emotional stimulation, social demands, and schedule changes take a toll on the nervous system. You might notice brain fog, low motivation, or irritability. That doesn’t mean something is wrong — it means your system is recalibrating.
Give yourself a lower baseline expectation for a couple of weeks. Ask: What is the “minimum effective day” I can have and still feel okay about it? Maybe that’s answering the most important emails, moving your body a little, and feeding yourself well. That counts.
Use Routines as Support — Not Punishment
Routines should make life feel steadier, not stricter. If your schedule starts to feel like a list of things you’re already behind on, it’s time to adjust.
Try building routines around how you want to feel, not just what you want to get done.
Examples:
- If you want to feel calmer → add a 5-minute breathing or quiet moment
- If you want to feel more focused → start work with one clearly defined task
- If you want to feel more connected → schedule one low-pressure social touchpoint per week
When routines serve your well-being, they’re more likely to stick.
Watch the All-or-Nothing Thinking
It’s common to think, “I already messed up today, so I’ll start over Monday.” That mindset keeps you stuck in stop-and-start cycles.
Instead, practice the “next best choice” approach. Didn’t wake up early? Still go to bed on time. Missed a workout? Take a short stretch break later. Ordered takeout? Add a vegetable or drink water with it.
You don’t need a perfect day to have a better day.
Build in Recovery Time
One of the biggest mistakes people make when re-entering routine is scheduling every open space. But rest isn’t a reward for finishing everything — it’s fuel that helps you function.
Protect small pockets of unstructured time each week. Even 30 minutes to do nothing, read, sit outside, or scroll without guilt can help your nervous system settle and prevent emotional overload.
Getting back into rhythm after the holidays is less about discipline and more about gentleness. Sustainable routines are built with patience, flexibility, and self-compassion — not pressure.
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or struggling to find your footing this season, you don’t have to figure it out alone. You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation to talk through what support might look like here:
https://calendly.com/
Small steps count. And it’s never too late to begin again — slowly, kindly, and in a way that actually works for your life.
OTHER COUNSELING SERVICES WE OFFER IN DENVER, CO
We offer a variety of additional services besides brain-spotting and EMDR therapy. WellMinded Counseling also offers the following therapy services: