The holidays are a wonderful — and sometimes stressful — time of year. There are numerous festivities, Christmas shopping to complete, events to host, and travel to see family and friends, of course. And then there’s balancing a full-time job (or 3 more if you’re me, including being a project manager in healthcare (my day job), creating content for my fashion blog, designing jewelry, and working as a BeautyCounter Consultant). Whew! That’s a lot. With that said, I was beginning to feel a bit burnt out. To stay ahead of the curve, there are a handful of things I like to do to beat holiday stress. You can incorporate these tips year-round. 🙂
What I’m Wearing – Blouse: J.Crew | Denim: J.Crew (similar) | Necklace: Lace & Pearls Jewelry | Rings: Rebekah J. Designs (here & here) | Hair Barette: Amazon | Tote: Cuyana c/o | Shoes: Eastland c/o
Beat Holiday Stress
Stay hydrated
Drink half your body weight daily (in ounces) of water. For example: if you weigh 100 pounds, drink 50 ounces of water. An easy way to accomplish this is to pick up a large Hydro Flask that you only have to fill a few times. Additional benefits to staying hydrated include:
- It boosts skin health and beauty
- Flushes the body of toxins
- Appetite-suppressant, helping with weight loss
- A plethora of other benefits
Move your body for at least 30 mins daily
Even if you’re not someone who enjoys working out, you don’t have to do much to accomplish this. Simply taking a walk and getting fresh air counts toward moving your body. You can also do yoga or another home workout. Wearing a FitBit helps keep me accountable to my step goal. I’ve been wearing mine for seven years!
Eat a balanced diet
This one is huge! I could easily dedicate an entire post to this topic. Meal planning and eating clean is your best bet for accomplishing this. To master a balanced diet, shop the perimeter of your grocery store and stock up on whole foods — think fresh fruits, veggies, meat, and eggs. These should be the foundation of your diet. I’ll also opt for tofu, nuts, oatmeal, and rice (on occasion).
Avoid these food items
- Dairy: I’m lactose intolerant but will sometimes indulge in a bit of cheese, half & half, and pizza! Fortunately for me, I have a small threshold and can eat small amounts of dairy. During times of stress, however, diary should be avoided for those who typically avoid lactose since symptoms may be heightened. This applies to me as well. 🙂 So if you’re feeling stressed, skip the diary and opt for an alternative such as coconut or almond milk. Nut Pods are my absolute favorite.
- Refined sugar and processed food: These include white bread, pizza (my fav), pasta, pastries, white flour, white rice, desserts, etc.
But do these 🙂
- Get adequate rest. I’m horrible at getting enough sleep. I rely heavily on a natural sleep aid and nighttime rituals such as taking a bath, reading, and drinking a warm cup of tea.
- Keep stress levels down as much as possible. Talk to a close friend or loved one and don’t forget to move your body. Get as much rest as possible. Basically follow the above list.
What tips do you have to beat holiday stress? Share in the comments.
Shop the post:
Blouse: J.Crew | Denim: J.Crew (similar) | Necklace: Lace & Pearls Jewelry | Rings: Rebekah J. Designs (here & here) | Hair Barette: Amazon | Tote: Cuyana c/o | Shoes: Eastland c/o
*c/o: courtesy of or gifted
Photography: Nicholas Mercado
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