Ah, the holidays: Full of family, food and festivities. But you know what they’re also full of? Stress.
Tis the season to be jolly, sure, but it’s also filled with holiday whirlwinds — gift shopping, parties, decorations and more. And when those holiday to-dos are coupled with the regular stresses of life, experts say it can take a toll on your health.
- Breathe. Practice slow breathing and focus on expelling all the air from your lungs by the time you count to three. Make sure you inhale completely before exhaling. This will help you relax and reduce anxiety.
“Practicing deep breathing and rest after the holidays can help balance our bodies by giving us time to connect with our physical bodies, our environments. All the breath, the mind, body are connected and through these postures, we’re exercising the effort, the focus of the mind,” says yoga instructor Andrew Kuhlman.
- Practice meditation. Try concentrating on your breathing or repeating a mantra such as “I am calm.” Focusing on a specific word can help clear your mind of stress and anxiety-inducing thoughts.
- Get moving! Staying active can help keep stress at bay by strengthening your immune system, improving sleep patterns and helping you maintain focus and balance throughout the day. Even something as simple as taking a walk around the block can help clear your head.
- Connect with nature. Spend time outside in nature, allowing yourself to enjoy the beauty of Mother Earth. Taking moments to breathe deeply and feel connected to the outdoors will provide much-needed relaxation, grounding and peace of mind during this busy season.
- Get clear about where your feelings are coming from. The holidays are an emotional time for many people and we’re often not sure why we feel sad or irritable at times that should be happy and exciting. Try writing down your thoughts when you’re feeling stressed or upset instead of keeping them bottled up inside you. This will help give clarity to your emotions and make it easier to process them and release them in a healthy way