Many thoughts rush through our minds as the holidays approach. And, during this hectic period, we sometimes confront stress and fatigue instead of comfort and joy. Since this festive season is meant to be happy, here are a few tips to reduce anxiety.
- Remember to exercise. When we deviate from our normal schedule, exercise is occasionally put on the back burner. However, regular exercise has multiple benefits, and relief from stress is one of them. Consequently, be sure to work out as regularly as possible. Naturally, if you miss one session, it’s not going to upset your overall routine. Yet, if you become accustomed to forgoing workouts, it will be more difficult to get back into the groove, and you could find yourself with increased angst.
- Party sensibly. Mostly everyone indulges at some level during the holidays; actually, it’s part of the fun! Nonetheless, try to keep food indulgences at acceptable levels. For example, if the office is celebrating with a potluck lunch, perhaps try a little bit of everything you think you might like, but don’t go back for seconds. Sometimes it’s the second and third helpings that add on the pounds.
- Limit certain drinks. Yes, wine, martinis, cosmos, coffee drinks, eggnog, beer, and other tasty liquids seem to go down considerably more smoothly during celebratory times. Still, when we overdo it, our bodies pay the price. Because of this, make a concerted effort to sip drinks instead of downing them too quickly. What should we do if we’ve reached our limit and still desire something wet? Purified water is a great choice! Actually, this fluid should be consumed throughout the day.
- Plan ahead. Occasionally it feels as though there are not enough hours in the day. With parties, shopping, cooking, wrapping, and everything else we have to do, these feelings seem to magnify during the holidays. Therefore, plan ahead. Maybe start shopping and/or wrapping early, cook leisurely and freeze certain items, and then have fun when it comes time to enjoy. When we properly plan, we are less apt to feel overwhelmed.
- Amend fatty ingredients. Perhaps you’re in charge of preparing multiple high-calorie dishes. If this is the case, then consider cutting back on some of the fat. For instance, use low fat ricotta instead of the whole milk variety in your lasagna or stuffed shells; the dish will still be wonderful. Or, use unsweetened applesauce for half of the butter measure in homemade cakes and cookies; they’ll be yummy, anyway. Or, use whole grain crackers, whole grain breads, whole grain pasta, and whole grain rice when making appetizers, stuffing, meals, and desserts. Whole grains are considerably more wholesome, and they’re less likely to make you feel overstuffed.
The above are a few thoughts to limit stress during the holidays. Even so, if tension still finds you, schedule an appointment with Healing Hands Chiropractic Care. An adjustment or therapeutic massage could be just what you need to feel better!