Managing Holiday Stress

By Tina McDermott

Discover Whole Body Freedom

. http://tinamcdermott.com/

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Managing Holiday Stress

The holidays can be a joyful time, offering a chance to reconnect with friends and family and they can also be very stressful. The holidays can also be hectic, full of shopping, family, and celebrations complete with yummy calorie-laden foods.

Here are some strategies on how to de-stress your life, and stay healthy, emotionally and physically so you can have the best holiday season ever!

Eat Well. Avoid sugars, limit alcohol and caffeine. Eliminating sugars and processed foods that turn to sugar helps tremendously with weight loss and can decrease your stress response. As caffeine can further stimulate the central nervous system, thereby intensifying the stress response, it's best to avoid caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and colas. In addition, alcohol intake should be minimized, as it can increase appetite and decrease control over eating behavior.

Exercise.
Research shows that exercise helps with stress and “vent” negative emotions, helps to boost our endorphins, or “feel-good” hormones, ultimately improving our mood. Exercise also decreases our appetite, helping us to consume fewer calories. Even when you are out of your regular exercise routine try to do something, even if means going for a 10-minute walk every day. You can even recruit family members to play outside or walk with you making it a super fun and connecting part of the day.

Relax. Yoga, meditation, or even deep breathing can help to take the edge off. Visualizing a peaceful place can be a soothing way to “escape” from reality, for just a few needed seconds.

15 Things You Can Do Instead Of Stressing Or Eating

Read a book or your favorite fitness magazine

Search for a website, on a topic that is of interest

Go for a walk

Call or email a friend

Write in a journal

Play a game with your spouse, children, or pets

Do an exercise video, or hit the gym for aerobics, weightlifting, or yoga

Tackle some household chores dust, vacuum, balance the checkbook, etc.

Take a long bath or shower

Start your holiday gift list both gifts to give, and gifts to receive

Do some outside chores work in the garden, mow the lawn, rake leaves, or shovel snow

Meditate or pray

Work on a craft project that will keep your hands busy knitting, needlepoint, painting, woodworking, etc.

Crank up your stereo and dance around the living room like no one is watching

Brush your teeth, use a strong mouthwash, then pop in a piece of extra-minty gum