Hari Raya is a time of joy, family, food, and celebration. The warmth of being surrounded by loved ones, the laughter echoing through the house, and the beautiful traditions all contribute to a magical atmosphere. After all the joy, love, and celebration of Hari Raya, itâs completely normal to feel a little empty, sad, or even unmotivated once itâs over. This feeling, often called “post-Raya depression,” is a real thing, and many people go through it. The sudden quietness, the return to routine, and the absence of loved ones can hit harder than we expect. But heyâthis emotional roller coaster can be managed, and you can bounce back stronger.
Here are five steps to help you get through your post-raya depression:
1. Embrace Your Emotions.
First step is to validate your feelings. Tell yourself that itâs okay to feel down and demotivated after coming back from celebrating Raya at your hometown. Youâve just had days filled with love, food, family, and rest. Going from celebration mode back to âreal lifeâ can be tough. Instead of pretending everythingâs fine, give yourself permission to feel. Cry a little, sit in silence, write in your journalâwhatever helps you release those emotions. Remember, healing starts with acceptance.
2. Ease Back Into Routine.
Coming back to reality from enjoying Raya with your family might take some time so, donât rush back into your busy schedule like a rocket. The key is to be gentle with yourself. Make a step by doing small and easy tasks like clean up your space, plan your meals, or write down your to-do list for the week. Slowly, step by step youâll find way to get back on your track. Little wins matter, and it’s better late than never.
3. Stay Connected with Your Loved Ones.
Just because Raya is over doesnât mean the connection ends too. There are many things that you can do despite of the distance. With technology on this modern day, you can keep the warm and heartfelt vibes alive. Start a video call with your parents and siblings, exchange a daily life update to your cousins, or even share funny Raya moments in the family group chat. These actions can help you to stay emotionally connected and ease the loneliness that you feel after spending time with your loved ones.
4. Create Your Moments of Joy.
You donât need another big celebration to feel good again. Start by adding small joys into your dayâtreat yourself toyour favourite matcha drink, go for a retail therapy shopping, cook a simple dish you enjoyed during Raya, or light a scented candle that reminds you of home. Trust me, these little acts of self-care can be surprisingly powerful in lifting your mood.
5. Plan Something to Look Forward To
Having something to be excited about gives yourself a reason to keep going with your life and that is the magic of anticipation. Plan something that you are excited about and it doesnât have to be grand or expensive. A simple plan like a weekend picnic, a day trip with friends, or trying out a new cafĂŠ can spark excitement. These little plans create pockets of joy that remind you thereâs still so much to look forward to, even after Raya celebrations are over. It’s important to have a positive vibes in your life because it gives you hope and motivation to move through the present.
This feeling is normal and shall pass.
Post-Raya depression doesnât mean youâre weak or overly emotionalâit just means you have a heart that deeply feels love and connection. Donât be too hard on yourselfâgive yourself the time and space to feel and heal. It’s simply your heart adjusting after the warmth and joy of Raya. Just like every season changes, so will this emotional dip. What matters most is to keep moving, even if itâs just one small step at a time. So be patient with yourself, allow space for healing, and believe that this feeling will pass eventually âĽď¸.
