3+ ways to gift yourself less holiday stress

The holiday season often brings unwelcome guests — and no, I’m not talking about friends and family that come in from out of town…

I’m talking about stress and anxiety. The holidays present a dizzying array of demands — parties, shopping, cleaning, baking and entertaining, just to name a few.

Reducing stress in your everyday life is vital for maintaining your overall health, as it can improve your mood, boost immune function, promote longevity and allow you to be more productive. When you let your stress get the best of you, you put yourself at risk of developing a range of illnesses from the common cold to heart disease.

Stress has such a powerful impact on your well-being because it is a natural response that is activated in the brain, which then sends signals that activate a multitude of hormone producing glands to respond. With some practical tips, you can minimize the stress that accompanies the holidays. Let’s examine how this process works, why stress affects you the way it does, and the severe impacts it can have on your health.

The science of stress

When you become stressed, the brain undergoes both chemical and physical changes that affect its overall functioning. During periods of high stress, certain chemicals within the brain, including the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine begin to rise, causing larger amounts of these and other “fight-or-flight” hormones, such as adrenalin, to be released by the adrenal glands. The release of these chemicals contributes to certain physiological effects, including rapid heart rate, higher blood pressure, and a weakened immune system.  When left unmanaged over time, chronic stress can lead to the development of other serious problems, such as stomach ulcers, stroke, asthma, and heart disease. Learn more about preventing heart disease by downloading my free wellness guide.

Physical effects

Many health care professionals consider chronic stress a significant risk factor for illnesses such as cancer and heart attacks. One reason is that our body’s physical reactions to prolonged stress may accumulate slowly and go unnoticed in our attempts to adapt to ongoing stress. However, even if it seems we’re building a tolerance to stress, our nervous system is still dealing with an overload which can seriously affect overall health in the long run. Stress is also hard on your digestive system. The disruption of your body’s natural digestive processes can cause nausea, pain, vomiting, heartburn, constipation, acid reflux or diarrhea. One easy way to take control of your digestion is by using targeted, time honored herbs and research-based nutraceuticals that can also support immunity, vitality, cognitive health and much more. Learn more about digestive health and digestion support here.

Psychological effects

In addition to the various physical effects of stress, it can also contribute to a number of mental and emotional disorders, including depression, anxiety, phobias, and panic attacks. This emotional stress can make it difficult to focus, make decisions, think things through or remember things. While the many physical effects of stress can be overwhelming, it is important not to ignore these psychological effects as they also play a large part in overall health and vitality.

Stress management techniques

So, what can you do to shift yourself into a healthier pattern and reduce stress? One of the most effective and rewarding techniques is meditation, which encourages you to relax your mind and examine your inner self with a sense of honesty and compassion, rather than judgment and criticism.

Meditation practice helps to let go of old patterns of stress, tension and distraction, and encourages a more spacious and relaxed state where our innate healing capacity can emerge. Meditation also teaches that change comes about by taking small steps and making them part of your life rather than making dramatic leaps that you cannot sustain over time. Committing to just 15 minutes of daily meditation and breathing is a simple step that has profound benefits.

In addition to meditation, don’t forget to….

1. Engage in regular moderate exercise such as walking, yoga or swimming. These activities have proven stress-reducing benefits, as exercise releases positive stress-busting endorphins and can increase self-confidence and lower the symptoms associated with anxiety and depression. Regular exercise also helps to improve your sleep, which can be compromised by stress, depression and anxiety.
2. Eat a healthy whole foods diet rich in dark greens, healthy fats and adequate protein. Nutrition is helpful for treating stress. Since chronic stress can strip your body of essential B vitamins, it is important to obtain these nutrients, as well as magnesium and calcium, through diet or supplementation. Whole grains and legumes are good sources of these nutrients.
3. Avoid caffeine and sugar, as these stimulants can contribute to stress and depression.