The year may have started off on a high note, but for many, everyday life really begins this week. It may be sad that the holidays are over – but January can also act as a real health pill.

January blues and everyday anxiety are hot topics at this time of year, but the fact is that many people feel good about returning to their everyday routines. A period of time off, often with poorer nutrition, more alcohol and irregular sleep, comes to an abrupt end whether you like it or not.

– There is a lot of evidence that routines are wonderful and wonderful, says Per Johnsson, associate professor of clinical psychology.

According to him, Christmas is very different from other holidays as there are often a lot of things to do around the holiday, which can be stressful. As nice as it is, many people feel they have to travel around the country and sleep over, in perhaps not always comfortable beds, with family and friends.

Back in everyday life, you don't have to think and plan as much because you simply don't have as much time to play with. That's a good thing, according to Johnsson, who says that people feel good about living a somewhat structured life – but with flexibility within the framework.

– There is a very famous saying that we humans love having many choices, but hate choosing, says Johnsson.

Helps the internal clock
Christian Benedict, sleep researcher and author, also welcomes everyday life.

– When we have a more regular life, we help our internal clock function, he says.

He doesn't think you should worry too much about sleeping fewer hours during the weekdays.

– You have to be a little careful about using free time as a reference for what you need. When we are free, we are more likely to drink alcohol and eat fat, which affects sleep quality, says Benedict.

But going to bed on a holiday and then waking up to a weekday can be a tough adjustment. You can easily suffer from what Benedict calls ”holiday jet lag.”.

To avoid this, he suggests three preparations for the last few days off. By going outside, hopefully in the sun, early in the day, exercising during the day, and eating earlier, you can reset your internal clock and send signals to your brain to go to sleep a little earlier in the evening.

”Erase the emptiness”
“If you're an evening person, this won't turn you into a morning person, but it will shift your circadian rhythm in a positive way,” he says.

The fact that the long weekend is over can also mean relief for those who are alone.

– There is no time like Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve that is so demanding when you are alone. You become so much more alone, it feels like everyone is with each other, says Per Johnsson.

There are four words – all of which end in ”löshet” – that he thinks we should try to free ourselves from: hopelessness, powerlessness, helplessness and meaninglessness.

– You should have some hope and feel some power over your own life, and routines are a great help there.

Source: TT