Ottawa Chiropractor Health and Wellness Blog

Beat Holiday Stress

Holiday stress sounds like an oxymoron, but with hectic schedules, busy shopping centers, traveling and house guests, the holidays can easily become a stressful time. Use these tips and make sure your holiday is filled with peace and joy.

Make a Budget - and Stick to it!

Finances is a leading cause of stress for most people.  Extra holiday spending on gifts and events can quickly get out of control.  Creating a budget for these extra expenses will keep you from going overboard and stressing out when you look at your credit card bill at the end of the season.

Do Less

Having a full social calendar can be fun - to a point.  Being too busy can be stressful, and introverts in particular may require more time to decompress in between social functions and shopping trips.  It's OK to say no!  We cannot be everywhere at once. Do only as much as you can without feeling overwhelmed.

Don't Abandon Healthy Habits

Eating lots of rich, sweet foods, drinking alcohol at holiday gatherings, and not making time to exercise will stress your body, make you feel more bogged down and dampen your immune system.  Continue to make healthy eating choices, get adjusted, sample sweet treats in moderation, and make time to exercise - your body will thank you for it.

Schedule in Some "Me Time"

The holidays are a great time to show our love and appreciation for others, but we should not forget ourselves!  Take the time to do something relaxing. Take a bubble bath, meditate, read a good book, take a scenic hike in Gatineau Park.  Slow down and let your worries fade away. Give yourself time to relax and recharge, you will be in a healthier frame of mind to enjoy the holidays.

Set Realistic Expectations

We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be perfect and to make the holidays perfect.  Instead of putting yourself up against an unrealistic ideal, set achievable goals for yourself. Just because your dining table doesn't look like Martha Stewart's does not detract from the true meaning of the season. Remember why we're celebrating: to gather with friends and family and share joy, love and gratitude.