Without fail, this time of year creeps up fast and before we know it, we are mired in the hustle and bustle of the season. While there is so much to look forward to, the decorating, the gathering with family and friends, the gift giving, often these all cause a bit of stress as well. We can easily become overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are ways we can prepare ourselves ahead of the holiday stress.
1. Don’t Go It Alone
Taking care of all the holiday preparation is not a one person job, nor should it be. Make a plan and ask for help with the shopping, the cooking, the cleaning, the gift wrapping, etc. Delegating some of these tasks can take the pressure off and ease stress.
2.Take Some Time to Yourself and Get Exercise
It’s okay to take a breather. When the holidays get overwhelming, take some time to yourself. Take a walk. Forest bathing can be done in winter, too. The temperatures may be a bit colder and the trees may be bare, but a walk outside can be centering, refreshing, and healthy.
3. Get Rest
Not getting enough sleep can exacerbate stress and anxiety in an already anxious time of year. Getting a good night’s sleep can go a long way toward helping reduce stress.
4. Nutrition, Nutrition, Nutrition
Of course, this is the hardest time of year to maintain healthy eating habits. We are inundated with foods that are high in fat and carbohydrates. Still, focusing on good nutrition can help us keep calm. Feasting occasionally is okay. Still, Roberta L. Duyff, RD, author of the American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition guide suggests maintaining an anti-stress diet routine between the feasts can help you feel calmer. This time of year fruits and vegetables such as berries, peppers, and winter squash, eating fish like salmon with omeg-3 fatty acids can help keep brain chemicals regulated.
5. Supplements Can Help Too
Having a plan in place and keeping good nutritional practices during this time as key tools in keeping a stress-free holiday, supplements can offer additional help. Supplements like ashwagandha, l-theanine, and magnesium have, in smaller studies, shown beneficial effects when it comes to relieving stress. Panaxea’s Tran-Qwill and PS Calm are herbal blends that can also help promote calm.
Ashwagandha, an adaptogen that has been part Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years, has been used to regulate stress. In small studies published in Medicine and Cureus, findings showed ashwagandha helped reduce stress in otherwise healthy adults.
L-Theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, has shown promise in improving mental focus and memory as well as reducing stress.
Magnesium, a key mineral found throughout our bodies, helps with everything from bone strength to heart rhythm and blood pressure as well as mild anxiety. Dietary surveys do show that folks are not getting enough magnesium from diet alone. That could be even more true during the holidays.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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