For a lot of Britons January often feels like a battleground, standing wounded on the battlefield in ruins and wondering what kind of magical potions you’ll need to drink to recover from the damages. Admittedly, Christmas is nothing like a war of titans, but it does affect your wellbeing at a deeper level- so much so that you need to dedicate the first few weeks of the new year to your recovery. Don’t be fooled by the term Post-Christmas recovery though, it has nothing to do with the time off after a physical injury or an illness. It’s more about considering the impact of the financial, emotional and physical rush that most people go through during the festive season. Whether you feel tired, or you’re struggling to pay your January bills there is a solution to speed up the recovery path and embrace the new year positively.

Problem one- you were so generous that you’re broke:
Would you believe that a lot of people put themselves inadvertently in a debt situation as a result of a Christmas shopping frenzy? Unfortunately it is now a part of the traditional spirit of Christmas. You simply want to please your relatives and closest friends so you find it difficult not to buy them the best gifts – even if it means spending more than you earn. After all, that’s why credit cards were invented weren’t they? Wrong! If you’ve been overspending it’s time to wake up and take your finances back under control. You may need to apply for a payday loan at Personal Money Store to sort out the first bills of the month but this shouldn’t become a habit. Prepare your monthly budget to define how much you need to repay – including the payday loan – and work on your saving strategy. January is a month for frugality: Spend less and only wisely, and if you’ve got birthdays coming set a spending limit for everyone! A last piece of advice: Give the credit card a rest!

Problem two- your skin is telling you you’ve over-indulged over the Christmas period:
Unless you’ve been baking healthy treats over Christmas, it’s likely that you’ve taken your body through some food-related abuses. No, we’re not talking calories but body fuel. There are only so much high sugar and fat content your body can take. For instance, food with a high GI and dairy can trigger and aggravate acne. So if you’re dealing with an acne outbreak, or with dull-looking skin, it’s time to change your diet to address it. Focus on antioxidants, such as red berries, to clear your skin. You will also need to drink plenty of water to rehydrate your body and help your skin to feel rejuvenated. Finally, your eating habits and schedules need to get back to normal. While it’s rather common to have endless Christmas meals and treats throughout the day during the festive season, you need to stop eating at least two hours before going to bed and reduce your caffeine intake too.

Problem three- you’re exhausted after the family high:
Spending time with your family feels great, especially if you don’t see each other often. But it can be highly stressful too, especially as you try to spend time with everyone during the holiday. So if going back to work or school has felt like the worst thing ever, there’s probably a good explanation for it: you’re exhausted. Feeling tired all the time is actually a medical condition called fatigue, and it might even impact your memory, concentration and sleep patterns. In other words, you can’t just switch back to work without helping your body to recover from the stressful family time. It might sound counterproductive at first, but working out will boost your metabolism to recover and will provide you with a burst of energy. Additionally, it will help you to sleep better, which is another great tip to feel less tired!

Problem four- you need time for yourself:
And finally, there’s no denying that the Christmas holiday can feel overwhelming, especially as you spend time with your relatives. You might not have any time for yourself, and it’s a bad idea to go back to work without taking some necessary me time. There’s no need to book a January holiday to recover. But you should be scheduling time for yourself, such as saving a few weeknights for you and forgetting overtime. Focus on what you want to do. It doesn’t matter if it’s gardening or painting your nails. Me time is precious and helps to rest the mind.

How are you coping with the post Christmas recovery? I find being back at work a great healer, although I probably in the minority there!