If you’re one of those people who love Thanksgiving food (turkey, mashed potatoes, pie, etc.), then you know one of the best parts of the holiday is the leftovers. Some of my favorite memories of Thanksgiving involve eating pie for dinner, or making late night turkey sandwiches because everyone’s still up. Not to mention, eating roasted veggies with fried eggs for breakfast.  Add a cup of coffee, and that’s what I call a good morning.

Thanksgiving leftovers are the best—at least when we’re talking about food. But in my experience, food hasn’t always been the only leftover from the holiday. In my single seasons, I remember coming back to my apartment after being home, and feeling lonelier than I have ever been. In other seasons, an unforeseen altercation or miscommunication, peeled back wounds from my past that I thought had healed. And of course, few of us these days can leave a family gathering without feeling some frustration or confusion over differing world and political views.

No, food isn’t the only leftovers we have after the holidays. Many of us have some serious feelings to sift through as well. For some of us, there isn’t enough tupperware in the world to help us box up what we’re feeling. For others of us, it doesn’t make sense to stuff it down, so we search for a way to process it well.

Having had my fair share of leftover feelings, I want to share with you a few things that help, in case you’re experiencing an emotional hangover from the Holiday.

Here is Four Things to Do With Leftover Feelings: 

Write Them Down

I think sometimes, we avoid writing our feelings down because we think it’ll somehow make them and our circumstances real. But let me tell you, what you’re feeling is real. If you are back from the holiday weekend, and you’re feeling lonely, angry, disappointed, sad, or anxious—something is going on. Pretending it isn’t, won’t make you feel better. So grab a piece of paper, notebook, or a journal and write out what is going on inside of you. Write a list or paragraphs—anything, just get it out. I promise, you will start to feel a little better. Then,

Talk To Someone

Tell your best friend, a mentor, a good group of friends, a counselor, or a family member you can trust, about what you’re feeling. As you talk things through, try to figure out how deep your feelings go. Are they based on a one-time conversation or event? Or did something that happened trigger deeper wounds? If it is the former, you may be well on your way to moving forward. But if it is the latter, deeper work may need to be done. Scheduling extra time with a mentor or counselor is a good idea in this case. But also,

Exercise

Working out is often one of the first things to go during the holidays, and yet it is probably when we need it most. Exercise helps relieve stress and causes an endorphin release in our bodies, making us feel better. Combined, these two things can help us think more clearly, enabling us to process our situation and feelings that much better. So work out, and finally:

Don’t Ignore You’re Feelings

Don’t ignore the feelings weighing you down this week. They can’t be solved by working harder, eating more sugar, or going out with your friends this weekend. They need to be named, and you need to give yourself time to face them or they’ll never go away. Like putting leftovers in the freezer, they will just pile up until the freezer door won’t close. Or rather, until you can’t hide them anymore. Don’t let the busyness of the holidays be an excuse for not taking care of yourself. Instead, take care so you may be able to fully enjoy this season.

Are you experiencing leftover feelings from the holiday?

If so, how will you process them?

 

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