[woobox offer=’egqja8′ style=’popup’ trigger=’enter’ expire=’1′]

Happy Holidays!  A time of celebration and joy, anticipation and excitement, friends and family, gifts and giving.  Choosing a tree, decorating your home, planning the menu and more.

The holidays are a bustling and exciting time added to our already busy and sometimes over-scheduled lives. We sincerely wish “Happy Holidays” to everyone we meet.  But, sometimes, the hustle and bustle and expectations of the season make it difficult to stay “Happy” during the holidays.

Not only can stress take the “Happy” out of your holiday, but it can also lead to depression, impair your immune season, and leave you more vulnerable to colds and flu.  Here are some effective ways to help eliminate seasonal stress and put the “Happy” back in your holidays.

Don’t Overschedule

It’s okay to say no.  Don’t over schedule your time and take on more than you can manage.  It’s okay to ask for help.  A personal appeal for help will get a better response than a general email blast where the recipients are inclined to believe someone else will volunteer. (This applies to family too!)

Let Go of Perfection

Focus your time and energy on enjoying the people in your life.  Don’t sweat the small stuff and don’t feel like you have to do it all.  People may not remember what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

Think Positive

Negative thinking can trigger your body’s stress response.  It’s time to celebrate with your friends and family, so keep an optimistic outlook to help cope with the challenges

Sleep

Stick to your normal sleep/wake cycle whenever possible.  While it’s tempting to get more done by giving up sleep, the negative results will last far longer.  Sleep helps you reduce stress and improve your mood.

A good night’s sleep can make you feel energized and alert the next day.  It also helps improve your memory, may reduce your risk of depression and helps the body repair itself.

Exercise

One of the best ways to overcome stress is to exercise regularly.  Don’t give up your normal routines during the holidays.  When regular exercisers become inactive, they begin to feel depressed and fatigued after just one week.  Research has found that workouts can boost your mood for up to 12 hours.

Eat Right

Start your day with a healthy breakfast before loading up on the caffeine or energy drinks. Caffeine on an empty stomach can cause blood sugar levels to spike resulting in attention problems and irritability.

The effects of stress-reducing foods last only 2-3 hours, so you may need to eat several small meals or snacks throughout the day.  Look for snacks with at least 30 grams of carbohydrates and little to no fat like pretzels, Tootsie Rolls or jelly beans.  Carbohydrates boost serotonin which helps the body feel calmer.

Tune into Motivations

When family and friends try to push their bad habits on to you during the holidays, step into their shoes and try to understand their motivations.  When Aunt Stephanie keeps urging you to have dessert or a second helping try to understand she is just showing that she loves you and is not trying to sabotage you.

Beyond the Lists

Sometimes all the lists in the world, or at least on Google, aren’t enough and you need some additional help to manage your holiday stress.  Native Remedies® has several natural solutions to help you manage the stress and anxiety of the holiday season.

Native Remedies® PureCalm™ helps promote feelings of calm during times of pressure, stress, or nervous tension.  This all-natural herbal supplement supports soothed nerves, balanced emotions, and harmony.

Native Remedies® MindSoothe™ supports a balanced mood, emotional health, and feelings of well-being.  This all-natural herbal supplement helps lessen fatigue, reduces irritability and anger, and improves low self-esteem.  Available in veggie caps or tincture form.

Native Remedies® MindSoothe Jr™ because the stress of the season can affect our children too!  MindSoothe Jr promotes emotional wellness and a balanced mood in children.  This all-natural herbal tincture helps support a well-adjusted outlook, reasonable attitude and feelings of motivation.

Here’s wishing you and yours a happy, healthy holiday season!

  

BY MARY ELLEN KOSANKE

Sources:

https://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20306655,00.htmlhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/smart-habits-highly-successful-people/200912/7-tips-relieve-holiday-stress

https://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/features/beating-holiday-stress#1

https://www.verywellhealth.com/top-health-benefits-of-a-good-nights-sleep-2223766