Managing Holiday Stress in La Crosse WI

Holiday Stress Tips from Barge Berkley Chiropractic - La Crosse & Barge Berkley Chiropractic - Holmen What is it about the Holidays that get people so stressed out?! Behind all that joy and holiday spirit is a list of stressors that tend to add up. Busy schedules, kids off school, traveling, hosting, cleaning, increased shopping, family drama, increased spending, increased eating (often less healthy foods and desserts), less time for exercise or movement... Couple this with the cold weather, less sunshine (vitamin D), less time outdoors... that’s a lot to handle. The holidays are a time meant to be enjoyed and shared with loved ones. If you are overwhelmed, it can be hard to relax and soak in all the special moments that the holidays bring. Here are some tips to help you manage the holiday season in La Crosse WI.

How to manage holiday stress in La Crosse WI

• Drink more water. Pay attention to your water intake. Busy schedules, traveling, and swaying from your normal routine can make it easy to forget about keeping up with your water. Holidays come with indulgence and that often includes sugary beverages. Pay attention when you go to grab a drink and maybe skip the soda and have water instead.
• Dehydration can affect your blood pressure, irritability, anxiety, digestion, and more. Those are things you don’t want to be worrying about during the holidays!
• Eat sweets in moderation. It seems like every time you turn the corner there is a tray of cookies or treats waiting for you during the holidays. Increased sugar intake leads to increased inflammation in the body which makes it harder for your body to function optimally. A diet full of sugar weakens your immune system, increases anxiety, and negatively impacts your sleep and energy levels. So enjoy some sweets, but if you find that you get easily stressed during the holidays, try to focus on moderation!
• Keep moving! Your regular exercise routine can be tough to keep up when you have to travel or change your schedule around. Getting in some exercise/movement can really help you manage stress. So if you can’t stick to your regular routine, at least try to squeeze in a daily walk or a quick home workout, you’ll be glad you did! You can even ask people to join you and make it a family activity.
• Get adjusted! We always recommend increasing the frequency of your adjustments during times of increased stress, whether it\ involves the holiday season or not. Increased stress affects your Nervous System and spine, making it easier for you to sustain an injury or have symptoms of discomfort. Getting adjusted will help you manage the increased stress!
• Get adequate sleep. Making sure you get enough sleep will make the holiday activities more enjoyable by helping you keep your energy levels up and giving yourself time to recover from the long day. Sleep is when your body repairs and recovers, it is important to keep it a priority even when you are extra busy.