Holiday Survival Guide: How to Reduce Stress

The holidays are quickly approaching. Are you feeling more overwhelmed and frazzled than merry and cheerful? Not sure how to reduce stress? You’re not alone.

A survey by Consumer Reports revealed that 90 percent of Americans find at least one thing stressful about the holiday season. Ironically, most people will experience more stress and worry during the holidays than at any other time of the year. Many factors contribute to that stress, such as: monitoring the kids full-time, needing to accomplish more in shorter days, trying to stay active during the colder months, and allocating money for gifts, groceries, charities, concerts, and travel. So with everything going on, how is it possible to reduce stress, and experience a joyful, calm holiday?

The first thing to be mindful of is that the holidays tend to be filled with unrealistic expectations and unforeseen pressures that can cause mood and sleep issues. Unaddressed, these forces have the power to steal your joy, ruin your health and trigger unproductive behaviors, which can absolutely ruin your holiday.

We understand these mixed emotions and are here to help. Below are our top recommendations for reducing stress this holiday season.

Burn Some Calories

Instead of wasting the holidays watching TV or playing video games, get the whole family outside for safe exercises (and please be careful with brain injuring sports, i.e., football, hockey, or soccer). Try going for long brisk walks or try a dancing class. Exercise increases blood flow to all parts of the body, including the brain. It’s recommended to get 30 to 45 minutes of exercise daily.

Feast Well

Many people experience weight gain during the holidays. Portion sizes certainly contribute to waistline struggles. Eating foods saturated with fat and sugar can also pack on the pounds. When sitting down to a holiday feast, select foods that are high in protein, healthy fats and fiber. Eating a healthy meal before arriving is one way to maintain a healthy diet at family gatherings and holiday parties.

Fill the Gap

Due to the Standard American Diet (SAD), many people aren’t receiving proper nutrition from the foods they eat. To fill in the nutritional gap during the holidays, it’s essential to take the brain and mood-boosting supplements. Having a brain-directed supplement support plan will help you navigate the holidays more calmly and with better energy so that you can keep the seasons bright. Here are 3 of BrainMD Health’s top holiday survival supplements:

• Everyday Stress Relief promotes calm without drowsiness, maintains a positive mood, and manages healthy stress hormone levels.
• Omega-3 Power is essential for our brain cells to make the trillions of connections that enable peak cognitive, mood, and behavioral performance.
• Serotonin Mood Support facilitates sustained and deep sleep, maintains healthy mood and self-confidence, and even supports a healthy appetite.

Show Gratitude

Did you know that practicing gratitude actually makes your brain work better? Research has demonstrated that people who express gratitude on a regular basis are healthier, more optimistic, make more progress toward their goals, have a greater sense of well-being, and are more helpful to others. Write down three things that you’re grateful for every day. Then experience the joy that gratitude can bring.

Stay Well Rested

To keep up with the increased demands of the hectic holiday season, many people sacrifice quality sleep. Lack of sleep often leads to illness, which makes it that much harder to accomplish everything on your to-do list. To ensure that you have the energy you need to get the most out of the holiday season, it’s recommended that you get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Sleep is a sure fire way to reduce stress, feel more energized, and focus on the positive during the holiday season.

BrainMD Health’s supplements have a 100% satisfaction, money-back guarantee. You have nothing to lose except for stress and worry.

For a complete list of Dr. Amen’s brain healthy supplements, visit the online store at BrainMD.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Keith Rowe

Keith has been a member of the BrainMD team for several years, providing his research and writing talents. Keith is grateful to have the opportunity to write about supplements since many of them have made a dramatic difference in his life. He is often heard around the office saying, “We have supplements for that.”

Latest posts by Keith Rowe (see all)

• This Is What You Need to Know About HBOT
  Medically Reviewed by Dr. Nicole Avena - April 22, 2024
• Hormone Changes in Men: How to Know If You Have Low Testosterone! - April 15, 2024
• This Is What You Need to Know About EMDR Therapy! - April 11, 2024