Tips For Kicking Holiday Stress

Holiday season is officially here, and although you’ll experience a great deal of cheer, you’ll probably also endure some added stress. From making a list and checking it twice, dealing with bumper-to-bumper traffic at the mall and cleaning the house before the in-laws arrive—there’s a lot to worry about this time of year. Holiday stress management is the key to surviving the chaos. Try out these holiday stress tips to help get a grasp on the chaos and fully enjoy the celebrations as they were intended.

Stay Healthy

When you experience an increase in stress, your body can shut down. And with it also being cold and flu season, the last thing you need during the busy season is to get sick because your immunity’s down. You should exercise for stress relief and to help boost your immune system. Aside from keeping your body energized and strong, it’ll also help to counter holiday weight gain and reduce holiday stress overall.

As a supplement to exercise, eating right can further help keep your immune system in check and give you the energy you need to tackle the jam-packed schedule. Try to avoid eating excessive portions and heavier comfort foods to prevent sluggish repercussions. In addition to exercise and eating well, be sure to get a proper amount of sleep. When your body is fully rested, you can better deal with stress.

Drink Water

Another way to keep your body fully functioning during this time of high stress is to drink an adequate amount of water proportional to your body weight. Water keeps your body systems working and also flushes out any toxins, including the extra few cocktails you may have had at the holiday office party. You can add extra benefits to water by infusing it with fruit. Fruits not only give the water flavor, but also spike the levels of vitamins and antioxidants that’ll keep you healthy and fully able to tackle each day.

Tea is also a great water-based drink option that’ll help calm stress. Try a chamomile tea to relax or a green tea for an extra boost of energy. Water and stress can be a winning combo when dealing with the busy season—so make it a priority to integrate more water in your daily routine.

No matter what kind of water is in your cup, the most important thing is to ensure it comes from a high-quality, trustworthy source. Before the season gets into full swing, consider installing an under-sink filtration system like a reverse osmosis (RO) system. RO systems are one of the most comprehensive ways to treat your water for a broad range of potential contaminants and make it convenient to get fresh, filtered water right from your kitchen sink.

Plan Ahead

Taking a proactive approach to the holiday season is the key to successfully managing stress. Try to get your holiday shopping done early to avoid full parking lots and crazed, last-minute shoppers. If you’re responsible for this year’s holiday feast, think ahead about all the ingredients needed, write them down, and shop for and prepare the dishes that can be made in advance to avoid unnecessary stresses leading up to the big event.

Holiday travel can also be a great source of stress. Book your travel accommodations as soon as possible to keep costs lower. Also, plan out how you’ll be getting from location to location in advance so you don’t have to worry about it the day-of.

These tips for reducing stress and healthy holiday tips can get you through these holidays successfully and efficiently. With all that goes on during the season and all that needs to be done, you can take control and truly be able to partake in all the holiday cheer.