Do you have a social hangover?

It happened again this week... I had a social hangover. This is a self-diagnosed condition, of course.

I didn’t want to bump into a friend at the grocery store. I couldn’t drag myself to open play mahj. I didn’t even want to chat on the phone.

Normally I am the social butterfly. This week I was the hibernating bear.

My friend sent me the best cheer-up postcard when she knew I was exhausted!

My friends know me well!

Social hangovers happen to the most extroverted people I know. Sometimes we all need a few days to recenter.  I have had this condition before, so I knew how to treat it. I went to bed early, canceled plans, sipped chamomile tea, meditated and worked on a puzzle.

These are my favorite treatments for a social hangover:

Magnesium spray or Cymbiotika packets: Magnesium makes me happy. The medical claims I have heard are that magnesium calms the body and improves sleep. I'm not a doctor and I have not done any medical research, but I do believe magnesium makes me happier. I like to book a magnesium float one per week, but these packets and spray are always in my nightstand.

Puzzles: My brain still needs to work... but quietly. I love a good puzzle. When I have a social hangover, I will spread a puzzle out and just sort by section. My kids will come in and help put some pieces together, but we don't really have to talk. We just quietly sit and work together in peace.

Word search (yes… they make them for adults): I see in sequences and letters more than numbers. I rely so heavily on spell check when I write, that a word search is a great calming activity that also remind my brain to work a little.

Needlepoint: There is nothing more mindless than a background of basketweave on a needlepoint project. I can zone out and work on my needlepoint to give my brain a break. I can be present with my family as they watch a movie or work on homework, but I just sit and stitch. When I have a social hangover, I don't want to feel like I wasted the few days. Working on a needlepoint project gives my creativity a boost but my brain a break.

Yoga Nidra: I have had guided in-person yoga Nidra sessions, but when I need a "people break" I will just pull one up on Apple Music or a podcast recording. I lay on my back and just listen to the instructions. I always fall asleep during this meditation. When I awake, I feel deeply relaxed. Note: The method can be a little strange, but just surrender and do it. Trust me!

Nod Pod: If you have seen me in the past few months, I have been raving about this Nod Pod. Basically, the Nod Pod is a weighted eye mask. I keep mine all night (I don't think I am supposed to) and it gives me the best sleep I have had in years. I fall asleep almost instantly with it on. I have decided I also need one for the airplane. I don't care if I look strange. It is that amazing.

Legs up the wall: My favorite morning activity is to go for a walk in nature with the sunrise. When I have a social hangover, I honestly don't even want to hear the birds singing. I'll find a comfortable place in my house to lay on the floor with my bottom firmly at the baseboard. I extend my legs up the wall for a great stretch. This falls under the restorative yoga practice. I don't know why it works... but it is very calming.

I keep these in my nightstand.

I hope you can use some of my tips for recovering from a social hangover. I get them fairly often, and these methods always work for me!

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