Blog

Finding Relief When the Stress of the Holidays Hit

We’ve all experienced stress at times in our lives. Unfortunately, it can become a part of our normal, everyday routine. Whether it’s the responsibilities of a new job, a move to a new home, or just generally making ends meet, stress can quickly become an overpowering reality. To make matters worse, the stress and anxiety that come along with holidays can exacerbate stress levels. According to a poll by the American Psychological Association, roughly 25% of Americans experience not just stress, but extreme stress, during the holiday season. This is easily understandable, as the holidays include plenty of traditions like gift giving, cooking and planning with friends and family, which can lead to pressure put on you to deliver a grand experience for everyone. Read on to discover how you can fight that stress and have a memorable holiday season from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.

How to Avoid Stress

The best way to fight stress is to prevent it from taking hold of you in the first place. Though this may be easier said than done, there are many ways to fend off stress before it even strikes.

Eat Healthy:

Go for more greens than processed food and do your best to avoid junk food. Next time you’re craving a mid-afternoon snack, open a bag of carrots instead of throwing together an ice cream sundae. Choose a salad as your side instead of a plateful of salty French fries. It’s mindful decisions like these that serve to keep your mind functioning optimally when the stressful times hit.

Develop an Active Routine:

This is an open-ended tip that you can implement however you see fit. Use that nice bike trail nearby, fire up the treadmill for thirty minutes before work, or join a yoga studio. No matter which way you choose to be active, incorporating activity into your daily life is a critical step. It will be much more difficult to begin a regular workout routine once you’re met with stressful times.

Use Essential Oils:

Also called aromatherapy, the consistent use of essential oils can go a long way in fighting stress. They can be placed directly on the skin or inhaled by diffusing them throughout rooms in your home. Essential oils have been known to have a positive effect on the limbic system of the brain, which can serve to positively impact memory, emotional levels, and limit stress levels.

How to Fight Stress

Of course, completely preventing stress can be all but impossible. If stress has already set in for you, don’t lose faith; there are many effective ways of coping with it.

Talk it Out:

If you’re dealing with stress or with any concern, it can be psychologically uplifting to discuss it with others. The holiday season is a perfect time to do so, as you’ll likely be spending time with important people in your life. Let them know the holiday festivities are stressing you out, and chances are they’ll be more than willing to talk with you and help out with the holiday responsibilities.

Do What You Do Best:

Look back at what makes you happy and capitalize on your passions. Perhaps sketching or drawing puts you into a good mood, or maybe a break from everyday life to read a book on the sofa in the living room helps you to refocus. Whatever it is for you, doing what you enjoy can also prove to be beneficial to your overall health.

Get a Massage:

Massage therapy helps the body in a number of ways, including muscle relaxation, circulatory improvement and the body’s relaxation response. If you’re feeling stressed, schedule time for a massage at Van Ness Chiropractic. A little of “me” time can go a long way toward reducing stress.

Schedule Regular Chiropractor Visits:

Consistently making trips to your chiropractor is an excellent and natural method for attacking stress. A chiropractor will relax your muscles and realign your spine to help get your body back to full health. Read more about the benefits of regular chiropractic care here.

Schedule an Appointment

Van Ness Chiropractic offers a variety of services that are proven methods of decreasing or even eliminating your stress levels. Drs. Van Ness, Parkin and Sabri can help you to identify your stressors and offer advice on how you can work your way toward becoming stress-free. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with Van Ness Chiropractic, click here or call (847) 842-8070.