The holiday season can be a whirlwind of hectic activities including travel, social obligations, shopping, cooking and more. It can be hard to slow down and might even be necessary to accelerate the pace just to keep up with all the timely to-do’s! Especially for the elderly, it’s important to take a breather after the holiday in order to avoid prolonged exhaustion or even illness. Here’s some ideas on how to put the breaks on for a calmer, more restful time after the holiday rush is over: 
Practice Self Care again. The frantic pace of the holidays can lead to exhaustion from lack of sleep, which inevitably brings on stress. In order to cope, some will start eating poorly or self medicating to boost energy or relieve stress. So, after the rush is over, it’s time to get back to self care which means prioritizing physical and emotional health. Getting proper sleep and even scheduling some relaxation time is a good start; include getting back to healthful eating and it’s a great start! And remember, it is okay to decline some social invitations in order to focus on getting back on track.
Get outside. Yes, even in the cooler winter months, a walk outside can be refreshing and invigorating – in a therapeutic way. And, it is a break from the winter months habits of being isolated indoors. Keep it short, however, it is only meant to re-charge and re-connect with nature for a 
calming effect.
Create a calming environment. It’s important to ensure that one’s environment is conducive to slowing down after the hustle of the holidays. Take those festive decorations down and replace them with calming aesthetic touches like fragrant candles and ambient music on low volume.
Get back to the basics. There a definitely times in the year we want a vacation from everyday chores and activities, but after a hectic holiday season, it’s good to welcome the mundane back in! Spend time cleaning out a closet or re-organizing a workspace. Run the errands that were put on hold during the busy times. If there is a time for routine, this is it!
Slowing down after the busy season is important for health and well being. A good recharge period can be relaxing and uplifting all at the same time.
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