While it may be the most wonderful time of the year, the holiday season can also come with stress, burnout, and other less-than-festive feelings. As you and your loved ones prepare to celebrate the upcoming holidays, try out these holiday wellness tips to lower your stress levels and keep yourself feeling jolly all season long.
1. Maintain Your Healthy Habits
In this busy season, healthy habits can easily get overlooked, adding to the stress and feelings of unwellness. While it’s normal and healthy to indulge during the holiday season, don’t neglect the activities that keep you feeling physically and mentally well. As you prepare to pamper yourself with sweet treats at holiday meals, consider committing to a more nutritious, well-balanced breakfast. As you spend time around the fireplace chatting with your family, encourage your loved ones to continue the conversation on a short walk around the block.
2. Share the Load
Often, it can be easy to assign all of the holiday-related responsibilities to yourself, which can quickly lead to burnout and resentment. One of the easiest ways to avoid these feelings is by sharing responsibilities with the support group around you. Instead of cooking an entire Christmas meal by yourself, opt for a potluck and ask friends and family to bring their favorite side dish or dessert. Instead of handling the entire gift process, ask your partner to do the wrapping after you finish shopping.
3. Take Time for Yourself
In the hustle and bustle of buying gifts, cooking and baking, and packing your schedule with familial visits, it can be easy to neglect your own well-being. As you enter the holiday season, make sure to carve out time to focus on your mental and physical health. Set the gift list down, unplug your electronics, and prioritize activities that rejuvenate you, whether that’s going for a walk, taking a hot bath, or spending time on your favorite hobby.
4. Choose Gratitude
As you deal with the stress of the season, focus on what truly matters – spending time with your loved ones and being grateful for what you’ve been given. Simple ways to incorporate this into your daily practices include writing someone a thank-you note, keeping a gratitude journal, spending time in prayer, or trying mindfulness meditation.
Meet the Author
Ali Lemmons, BS, Summa Cum Laude
Ali Lemmons is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication with a minor in computer science. While at UTC, Ali also earned the distinction of Summa Cum Laude, the Outstanding Senior Award for the communication department, and was inducted into the Kappa Tau Alpha honor society. Now, as editor/digital content specialist for CMC Publications and Digital Smart Marketing, Ali leads the ideation, conceptualization, and development of numerous health, wellness, and lifestyle articles published in print and online for HealthScope, CityScope, and Choose Chattanooga magazines – premier publications serving S.E. Tennessee and North Georgia. She also is the lead copywriter for the company’s social media sites.
