The holiday decorations have been or will be coming down, or in my house gathered on the dining room table, waiting for a free weekend to pack them away. Stray pieces of tinsel and tree shedding cling to the carpet, and the fridge groans with leftover desserts. The house, once filled with laughter, chatter, and clinking glasses, now feels almost too quiet.
It looks dark. Bare. The grown kids have returned to their lives. After weeks of vacation time, holiday cheer and indulgence, settling back into a routine seems both a distant memory and an inevitable next step.
As the new year begins, we are reminded that all the indulgence of the holiday season, however delightful, comes at a cost. The plates loaded with food, the extra glasses of libations, the late nights spent with family and friends are all part of what makes the season special. But now, as we return to our everyday lives, we face the consequences of tighter pants, depleted energy, and that vague sense we have been off our normal course.
There is something magical about the holiday season that encourages us to let go of our usual constraints. We eat cookies for breakfast, justify that second, or third, helping at dinner, and laugh off the idea of a strict bedtime, in our house watching the beloved Christmas movies we can all recite every line. The season gives us permission to indulge in ways we would never dare to during the rest of the year.
Yet, while this hedonism feels freeing in the moment, it does not come without its challenges. By the time the holiday glow fades, many of us are left feeling sluggish, sleep-deprived, a little irritable, and maybe even regretful. The same excesses that brought us joy also leave us with bloated stomachs, shrinking bank accounts, and a great need for order.
The week after New Year’s Day feels very strange, especially this year. I have asked, “what day is it” this week so many times. It is a strange in-between where holiday habits linger but real life starts pulling us back. It can be hard to snap out of the holiday mindset when you have spent weeks indulging in ways that are not sustainable for long periods of time.
We tell ourselves we will hit the ground running, but reality has other plans. Instead of jumping into a strict routine, we hit snooze a few too many times or find excuses to delay starting our New Year’s resolutions. We stare at our to-do lists, overwhelmed by the prospect of reengaging with work, school, or everyday responsibilities.
This struggle is normal, and it is real. The transition from holiday hedonism to everyday life isn’t supposed to be seamless. After all, it is not just about changing our habits. It is also about resetting our mindset.
If getting back to normal feels daunting, the key is to start small, and there is no right or wrong way. Big, sweeping changes may seem appealing, but they are often unsustainable. If it makes you happy to keep your holiday decorations up through January, February, or whenever, do it. Some people enjoy the lights to help them get through the dreary darkness of winter, and that is okay. I love some of my outside decorations (the hyacinth flowers that my children got me from Oglebay); so, they will be staying a little while longer.
I believe there is no right answer. You do you.
Ease into your normal. Focus on simple actions that signal to your mind and body that it is time to recalibrate. Start by reestablishing one healthy habit. Begin with something manageable, like drinking a glass of water every morning when you wake up, taking a short walk, or cutting back on sugar. Small steps build momentum.
Concentrate on tidying a space, rather than tackling a whole room. A cluttered environment often mirrors a cluttered mind. Clear a single area like a desk, a kitchen counter, or your bedside table. The act of organizing can feel like reclaiming control.
Ease into it. Don’t dive into the hardest tasks on your list. Start with something simple to regain your motivation and confidence. Of course, there will be things outside of your control if returning to work or school, but you can do it.
Create boundaries for yourself. Start by limiting screen time, especially in the evenings, to help your body adjust to regular sleep patterns. To aid with this, you may want to commit to not eating after a certain time each evening.
The contrast between holiday chaos and everyday life can feel disturbing, but it also reminds us of the value in both. The holidays teach us to loosen up, to savor the moment, to connect with others. The return to normalcy, on the other hand, grounds us, providing structure and stability. When my kids were in school, I felt the same at the end of every summer vacation. The struggle is real between the freedom of vacation and the need for structure.
Perhaps the real lesson lies in finding balance. We do not have to reserve all our joy and indulgence for a few weeks each year. Likewise, we do not have to wait until January to reset and refocus. Carrying a bit of the holiday spirit into the year through generosity, togetherness, and even the occasional treat, might make our “normal” days a little brighter.
Getting back to normal does not have to mean recreating the exact routines we had before the holidays. Each new year creates an opportunity to refine them. Maybe this year, “normal” includes a bit more kindness to ourselves, a bit more flexibility in our schedules, or a bit more gratitude for the little things. I find myself appreciating the little things more and more as I age, especially time with those I love.
As the last of the glitter and tinsel is vacuumed up, and the holiday leftovers disappear, remember that normalcy is not about perfection.
It’s about finding a rhythm that works for this season of life. We will all likely stumble along the way, but that is okay. Normal is less about where we have been and more about where we are going.
