The holidays are a wonderful time of year when we gather
with loved ones, be thankful, be cheerful, give back and show the people we are
closest to that we appreciate them. However, for many the holiday season can
cause stress and anxiety. Crowded holiday shopping, wrapping presents, a
different holiday party ever weekend and extra guests visiting from out of town
can all contribute to stress. This stress can lead to overeating, over
consumption of alcohol, lack of exercise and trouble sleeping. Making sure you
manage that stress in a healthy way will ensure you will have a happy holiday
season.
This holiday season try taking small breaks. Take a few
minutes to yourself to close your eyes, focus on your breathing and relax. Try
a meditation app like Headspace where you can adjust your meditation time based
on how much free time you have. You could also give yoga a try. There are a
variety of free yoga apps on the market. With the Yoga Studio: Mind & Body
app you can choose from 10, 15 or 30 minute sessions, so fitting a little self
care time into your schedule is easier than ever. Either way make sure to make
time for yourself.
Another effective way to relieve stress is exercise. Whether
it is taking the dog for a walk, going on a short run, going to the gym for an
hour or giving a new exercise class a try, getting some exercise is a proven
mood booster. When you exercise it stimulates the production of endorphins
which is a feel good hormone. Exercise also helps produce dopamine which can
help with relaxation. Also spending time outside has positive feel good effects
on your body and mind. Getting out in the fresh air and sunshine stimulates the
production of serotonin which can boost your mood and make you feel calm and
relaxed.
Making sure you are maintaining a (semi) healthy diet will
also help relieve some stress this season. It is okay to indulge in comfort
food but make sure you are not over indulging. With busy schedules and high
stress weekends it is easy to over indulge in alcohol, sugar and caffeine. Try
to be mindful when making food decisions and have a majority of the food your
consuming be well balanced.
Make a list. Make a list of the people you want to buy gifts
for and what gifts you would like to buy for them. Highlight the gift once
you've bought it. You could even cross out the gift once you've wrapped it.
This will create a visual for you and help ensure you are not over buying.
Making a list will also help you stay organized. You can write down the dates
of the holiday parties you have this season on this list and give yourself a
time line. This may seem like a lot of extra work but the 15 minutes it will
take for you to create this list will save you a lot of time in the long run.
If you are hosting this holiday season a list will also help you be realistic
about your priorities.
Remind yourself that this is the season to be generous,
cheerful and positive. Being generous doesn't have to be expensive. Give a
compliment, pay for someone else's coffee, hold the door for someone, donate
unused clothes or toys to charity, offer to help someone or be present. Spend a
little extra time with that family member you don't talk to often. Challenge
yourself to doing one nice thing for someone else a day. Giving and being kind
is one of the best ways to be content and happy this time of year.
To find out more ways to keeping yourself and your family
happy and healthy visit our website at oxborochiro.com.
By: Julia Jacobson, Office Manager
Oxboro Family Chiropractic, P.A.
