5 Tips for Stress-free Holidays

It might be the happiest season of all, but it could also be the most stressful. Here’s our alive guide to making the holiday season calmer!

Make time for yourself
And don’t feel guilty about it! By taking a bit of time to relax, unwind, and do something you enjoy, you can feel balanced and ready to take on whatever happens next! If you’re looking for ideas, try out one of these:

• taking a long, relaxing bath
• journalling
• doing a DIY natural pedicure

None pique your interest? Check out these 12 easy stress-reducing suggestions.

Teach your kids the art of Zen
Presents and time off from school? The holidays can seem like a dream come true for kids. To make sure they keep in the true spirit of the holidays without getting caught up in the hype, check out our article “Holiday Mindfulness for Kids”. Its tips include:

• practising mindful breathing through breathing exercises
• creating rituals to show gratitude and thank each other
• engaging in family-friendly, holiday-themed yoga postures

Fit in some exercise
It may seem like just one more thing to fit into your schedule but trust us—even a little bit of exercise can boost your mood for the rest of the day by releasing “happy hormones” (epinephrine, adrenalin, and serotonin) into our bodies. The result is a more grounded, relaxed you (and you can get a head-start on your New Year’s resolution too!).

Our new article “Stress-Free Holidays” offers exercise suggestions to get you started.

Mind your nutrition
When we’re running around, checking off items on our to-do lists during the day and attending parties with not-so-healthy finger foods in the evenings, our nutrition can fall by the wayside. Unfortunately, neglecting nutrition can lead to low energy and reduced immunity. Eat foods that fight stress and consider supplements when you suspect you need an extra helping hand.

Make your holiday shopping easy!
There’s no reason to rush from mall to mall and store to store if you don’t have to. The perfect healthy, eco-friendly gifts for everyone on your list can be found at natural health retailers.

Check out our 2012 holiday gift guide “Healthy Giving” to find out the hottest gifts of the year. Plus, check out our contests page for a chance to win a giant prize pack featuring goodies from the gift guide.