Stay Well Despite Holiday Stress

Stress is the number one reason for our body’s getting run down and symptoms emerging. When stress is high, it suppresses your mood, your immunity, your digestion, your metabolism, and so much more.

Here are some of my favorite tips to help you stay well for the holidays and beyond.

Be mindful of your stress levels and take steps to manage it. I love the concept of “do, dump, delegate”. What do you HAVE to do? What brings you a lot of joy? What can you dump off your plate that isn’t necessary? What can you delegate to others and/or ask for help doing?
Eating more sugar, alcohol, and other treats? Being mindful of how much you’re changing your diet and then focusing on nutrient-dense foods throughout the next few weeks is important.
Get outside even when it’s cold. It was -11C when I took our dog for a walk this morning but I still got out there. The fresh air does us well and it helps me stay on track with my step goal.
Watch your minerals. You burn through key minerals and vitamins when you’re stressed. The BIG ones are B vitamins, Vitamin C, and magnesium. These are the ones I’ll supplement with when under higher stress. Keep in mind you want WHOLE FOOD vitamin C and not ascorbic acid or just make sure you’re eating lots of foods that are high in Vitamin C.
Use your your essential oils and deep breathing to minimize stress. We often think of immune support oils when weather is colder but helping to manage your stress will impact your immune system too. Essential oils like Wild Orange, Shinrin Yoku- the forrest bathing blend, Adaptiv – the calming blend, and Balance – the grounding blend from doTERRA are some of my favourites.
Prioritize your sleep. You manage life better when you get enough sleep. The goal is 8-9 hours of sleep a night. If you’re far from that, then take a hard look at your sleep routine to improve it. PS my to tips are no screens 90 minutes before bed, Serenity – the restful blend in my diffuser, and a little breathwork and mindfullness moment before bed.
Lift weights. Your body becomes more resilient when you take the time to build it up structurally. Lifting weights 3 times a week is a GREAT way to not only prioritize your physical health but allow for a healthy outlet of stress.
Nervous System Regulation. There are so many ways to help regulate your nervous system. Go to your chiropractor to get adjusted. Hum. Dance. Weighted blankets. Meditation. Breathwork. The list goes on and doing 2-3 of these a day will help you adapt better.
Stay hydrated. But don’t just drink plain water! This dilutes your minerals in your body and as you read on point 4, you are already burning through these faster when stressed. Add a little sea salt (NOT table salt) and lemon oil to your water.
Give yourself grace. My friend, it’s the holidays. This isn’t a competition to see who can out-holiday the next person. Take time to reflect, enjoy, breathe, and have gratitude for this magical time of the year. There isn’t another time (I don’t think) where collectively, we make things twinkly and magical. Watch the movies. Drive around to look at lights. Listen to all the songs. Soak it up while you can.