If you associate the holidays with constantly being on the go, you’re not alone. This is a stressful time of year for many of us because there’s so much to do and only so much spare time to get it all done. In fact, the holiday season has become a stress-fest for so many of us that we felt inspired to share these tips to help you beat holiday stress.
The end of the year is packed with social engagements, baking, cooking, and shopping – it’s no wonder it can leave you feeling like you’re always struggling to catch your breath.
And you’ll likely feel the effects of this cycle on your body long after the holidays are over. In the past, you’ve probably felt sluggish and irritable, like you were running on overdrive.
This effect isn’t surprising. Stress is the leading cause of inflammation in the body. When you experience it for long periods of time, it can negatively affect blood pressure, digestion, and sleep.
But it doesn’t have to be this way!
You can learn new ways to get things done while helping your body adapt better under pressure. We hope our stress-busting tips below help you as much as they’ve helped us over the years.
We’re by no means perfect, but practice makes progress and we’ll be joining in with you as you work on integrating these tips into your routine this holiday season.
Take a look at the list below, and start small. Start with the things you think will be easiest to fit into your day, and go from there. Even integrating just one of these tips will make a huge difference in your overall stress levels.
With love and relaxation,
The Conscious Cleanse Team
8 Tips to Beat Holiday Stress
- When it comes to gifts, focus on quality over quantity. Suggest to your family that you keep it small and simple this year so no one gets overwhelmed. Remember – less is more. Your loved ones will appreciate one small, thoughtful gift more than several impersonal gifts.
- Say yes to activities that light you up! You don’t need to book yourself for every single little thing. Remind yourself of the wisdom of saying no. Be picky about how you spend your time. Stick to the activities that really excite you.
- Take a 10-30 minute walk first thing in the morning. Early morning walks help regulate your circadian rhythm, increase your energy, and boost your mood. Starting your day with some movement and vitamin D from the sun will help keep your stress levels lower.
- Prioritize self-care. Book that massage, take that yoga class, write in your journal. Make these just as important as any other activities during the holidays.
- Try taking Ashwagandha, a stress-fighting adaptogenic herb. This is one of Jo’s go-to supplements. It naturally balances cortisol levels and helps to manage stress, insomnia, and anxiety. Jo loves Organic India’s Ashwagandha. If you do take adaptogens, make sure you rotate which type you’re taking, limit how long you take them, and stop them altogether when you feel like you no longer need them.
- Add in a cordyceps mushroom supplement. Cordyceps are another powerful adaptogen that helps your body’s reaction to stress by balancing your cortisol. They’re also a great source of antioxidants, so they help reduce the effects of oxidative (external) stress. We love taking Four Sigmatic’s Cordyceps Elixir in the morning to give us a relaxed and sustained energy boost.
- Take magnesium at night to help with healthy sleep and elimination. We love MegaFood’s Relax + Calm Magnesium powder. This powder contains a blend of magnesium that will support your nervous system function, regulate your sleep, and keep your gut regular.
- Give yourself a technology curfew. Our favorite devices emit blue light, which inhibits melatonin production in our bodies. Melatonin is naturally released in the evenings to help us wind down and get ready to sleep. Endless scrolling or watching before bed will keep your brain wired and prevent you from getting proper rest.
Need healthy holiday-friendly recipes to take the stress out of holiday planning? We’ve got you covered! Fill in your info below to join our online community. As a free gift, we’ll send you our Healthy Holidays eCookbook, a collection of more of our favorite easy and nutritious holiday recipes!
Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here.
