5 Lifestyle Tips to Enjoy a Healthy and Stress-Free Holiday Season

It’s absolutely possible to have healthy holidays without guilt, restriction, or regrets! 

Now, I could tell you that the key to stress-free holidays is to do less – fewer decorations, less or no gifts, and less pumpkin pie. But I won’t. For sure, in some way, having less in your life has its benefits. Because these are not the most important things about Christmas.

It’s about joy, laughter, kindness, spending time with loved ones, giving to others, slowing down, good food, music, making memories, reading a book in a quiet corner, and love.

Of course, I cannot tell you not to go all out if that is what you prefer.

But stressful holidays are inevitable when you’re rushing around, juggling travel plans and events, shopping for gifts, and neglecting your healthy habits.

For me, it’s all about striking a balance.

Use these 5 lifestyle tips to embrace all that is good right now and enjoy a happy, healthy, stress-free holiday season.

1. Manage stress-free holidays

Think back on past holidays for a moment. What caused you stress and what didn’t? Identify your stress sources and eliminate as much of them as you can. Here are a few holiday stress management tips that can help you:

• Journal your feelings
• Reach out for help
• Delegate tasks
• Meditate daily
• Avoid over-scheduling
• Set healthy boundaries
• Stay within budget
• Simplify gift ideas

2. Maintain healthy habits for healthy holidays

With the holiday season comes a busy schedule that tends to push your healthy habits aside. Don’t let yourself off the hook. Overindulgence and lack of sleep and exercise only add to the stress and guilt. Even science proves that a lack of sleep can have a major impact on mental health and behavior.

You don’t have to be rigid in your approach but be sure to have some control over your habits. Try the following lifestyle tips:

Prioritize getting quality sleep 

• Get at least 10 minutes of sun exposure in the morning.
• Keep to your evening routine to maintain a healthy circadian rhythm.
• Wear blue light blocking glasses at least 90 minutes before bed.
• Remove all digital devices from your bedroom.
• Replace your regular harmful bulbs with anti-blue light LED bulbs.
• Avoid eating large dinners before bed.
• Drink sleep tea before bedtime.
• Eliminate bedroom light or wear a sleep mask.
• Wear bed-friendly and cordless headphones to help you eliminate noise.

Nourish your body

• “Eat the food that loves you back” – Jodelle Fitzwater
• Avoid artificial sugars and processed foods.
• Eliminate or at least reduce alcohol consumption.
• Drink plenty of water.

Stay active

• Go for a walk in nature.
• Schedule a yoga session with a friend.
• Get an accountability buddy to help you stay motivated.

Meditate

• Set a reminder on your smartphone to help you remember.
• Create a peaceful and quiet environment where you won’t be distracted.
• Use an app, such as Insight Timer or Calm, if you prefer guided meditation.
• Let go of unrealistic expectations during your meditation sessions.

3. Simplify and let go of non-essentials

The joy of the season really comes down to the essentials. The things that matter most to us. For many, myself included, the essentials include spending time with loved ones. In my heart, that’s all that matters. The rest are non-essentials! Here are some ideas to simplify:

• Let go of the non-essentials.
• Plan and do Christmas shopping in advance.
• Limit shopping as much as you can.
• Prepare your healthy meals in advance.
• Share the workload among loved ones.
• Say “no” if you don’t want to participate in the festive craze.
• Find joy in gifting in other ways.

4. Carve out time for yourself

Prioritizing time for yourself might feel selfish but self-care is an essential part of your mental health. Do something for yourself every day at a convenient time for you. Whether that’s taking a solo walk in nature, taking a bath in the evening, reading a book in your corner, scheduling a yoga class, or waking up a few minutes early to enjoy a alone, do what makes you feel happy and relaxed so you can embrace stress-free holidays.

5. Savor the moment

It’s okay to be enthusiastic about Christmas. But it’s not okay to let the craze that comes with the season grab control over your life. Rather extend your happiness by savoring the good moments because they pass quickly.

A stress-free holiday season is about finding YOUR balance and being comfortable with it. Doing more of the things that make you happy and less of the things that don’t.

Wishing you a joyful, healthy, and stress-free holiday season!

You might also want to read this helpful article about F.lux.