Holiday Survival Guide
Our bodies have the capacity to do a little more than we normally do. But our bodies do not adapt very well to doing a lot more than we normally do. Since the added demands of this holiday shopping season can stress the capacity of our bodies, we need to do everything we can to help ourselves. Eat right, drink plenty of water, stretch, exercise and take a few minutes to slow down and reflect on what the season is all about.
Consider the following tips to help keep you and your loved ones healthy, happy and safe this season.
Treat Holiday Shopping As An Athletic Event
Drink 8-10 eight-ounce glasses of water a day. On shopping days, you may need to drink even more water.
Be sure to stretch before and after a long day of shopping. When you are stressed-out, your muscles are less flexible than usual.
Wear shoes with plenty of cushioning in the soles to absorb the impact of walking on those hard shopping mall floors.
Make sure your clothing is as comfortable as possible. It's a good idea to wear layers, because you may be going from a cold environment (outdoors) to a warm environment (indoors).
Leave your purse at home. Wear a light fanny pack, or if necessary, a light backpack instead.
If you start to feel some pain, nip it in the bud. Apply an ice bag to the affected area for 20 minutes, then take it off for a couple of hours. Repeat a couple of times each day over the next day or two.
Plan Frequent Breaks
During a day of heavy shopping, most people should take a break every 45 minutes.
If your mall or shopping center doesn't offer lockers, try to plan trips to your car. Don't carry around more than is absolutely necessary at one time.
When taking breaks, try to eat light foods. A salad and some fruit is a much better option than a burger and fries.
Skip the coffee break! Coffee and sodas contain caffeine and sugar, which add even more stress to your body. Pass on the designer coffee at the java stand and keep drinking water.
Shopping With Children
If at all possible, do not bring children along on a holiday shopping trip. Most children simply do not have the stamina for such an event, and you and your child will only become frustrated with one another. Don't add this type of stress to an already stressful situation.
Try to split “child duty” up with a spouse or another parent. They'll watch your kids while you shop, and vice-versa.
Wrapping Your Gifts
Since there is no “ideal” position for wrapping gifts, the most important thing to remember is to vary your positions. For example, try standing at a table or countertop for one package, sitting on a bed for another, sitting in a comfortable chair for another, etc.
Do not wrap packages while sitting on the floor. Wrapping packages while sitting on a hard floor can wreak havoc on your posture, and should be avoided.
Always stretch before and after you wrap gifts.
Chiropractic Care Can Help
If you experience pain or discomfort as a result of holiday shopping, consider a visit to your doctor of chiropractic. Your doctor of chiropractic can help alleviate your pain naturally, so you can enjoy the holiday season as it was meant to be.
Information obtained from the American Chiropractic Association
