Tips for Managing Holiday Stress
Between work, social events, shopping, travelling and party-planning, the Holiday season can be anything but joyful and merry. It can be downright stressful.
A poll by the American Psychological Association shows that 8 out of 10 people anticipate increased stress over the holidays.
Though the holiday season can be a difficult and stressful time, there are several ways to minimize stress, so you can actually have fun and get into the festive spirit.
Below are a few tips for managing holiday stress this season.
Eat Stress-Busting Snacks
If you’re feeling anxious about the stress of the Holiday season, add these calming foods into your daily diet for instant zen. They’ll help curb your munchies so you don’t overeat at festive corporate dinner parties and they’ll even help you relax.
Pumpkin Seeds
Nibbling on potassium-rich foods like pumpkin seeds can help to regulate blood pressure and reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety.
These super seeds are also loaded with zinc, which is essential for brain and nerve development. Some research has shown that a zinc deficiency can negatively affect mood. Toss them on a small salad or add them to a trail mix.
Chamomile Tea
A cup of chamomile tea can be just the thing to help you with managing holiday stress. A study published in the medical journal Phytomedicine, found that the herb significantly reduced symptoms for patients with generalized anxiety disorder.
Swap it for your usual afternoon coffee on super stressy days.
Yogurt
Some research shows that dairy products, including yogurt, can have an anti-inflammatory effect, combating the stress and anxiety that can result from chronic inflammation.
Plus, fermented foods (like yogurt) are good for your gut health, which many studies have linked to mental health. Take a mini cup to go or dig into a yogurt parfait, adding chopped fruit, nuts and/or seeds.
Drink Plenty of Water
You know it’s healthy to stay hydrated, but do you really need to worry so much about how much water you drink in a day? As it turns out, probably not.
The Dietitians of Canada recommend most women drink about 9 cups of fluids a day. We repeat: fluids – not just water. Juice, sparkling water, milk, soup and even coffee and tea count. Even a bowl of juicy fruit will contribute to your hydration bottom line.
You’ll want to make a conscious effort to keep your water bottle handy when you’re getting sweaty, though (at the gym, or on a hot day). But, otherwise, you should be consuming adequate fluids if you eat and drink at regular intervals throughout the day.
You can keep tabs on your hydration by watching for some of the signs of mild dehydration, which include dry lips and mouth, flushed skin, tiredness and urine that’s dark yellow or strong smelling.
If you feel well, visit the ladies’ room regularly and your urine is clear or light yellow you’re just fine. Listen to your body and drink as you need to – but go ahead and loosen that grip on your stainless steel water bottle.
Schedule a Spa Day
Taking a “me day” for yourself in the middle of Holiday hustle and bustle might seem counter intuitive, but neglecting to take care of yourself can backfire.
Stress can affect your physical health, leaving you feeling sick and tired. It can also affect your mood and ability to nurture and care for others.
Making time for your self-care makes you more resilient and more able to handle life's stress. It also keeps your stress from taking over so you can function at full capacity.
At sweetgrass spa, our spa packages can include something as simple as a manicure, pedicure and glass of wine or an elaborate full spa day complete with a champagne spa lunch.
Whatever you need to take care of you, sweetgrass spa offers spa packages that cater to your every need. Whether you’re looking for some time to relax, or spend a day out with the girls, sweetgrass spa has the best spa packages for every occasion.
Work Out in the Morning
Some research suggests that people who work out in the morning show more productivity throughout the day. But that’s not all! Morning exercisers tend to stick to their program because they can check it off their to-do list first thing and don’t have to worry about it for the rest of the day.
If you’re new to morning workouts, ease in slowly, say the experts. For instance, don’t start with a 10km run at 6:00 am no matter how enthusiastic you are to start a program. It’s just not sustainable to go big right from the get-go.
Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier than normal so that you can take a morning walk. These kinds of ideas, fitness experts say, will help your body adjust to being active.