The holidays are one of the most cherished times of the year, bringing together family, traditions, and celebrations that help break up the colder, drearier months. Though it’s a time to relax and create memories with loved ones while enjoying good food and drink, the organizing, shopping, planning, and overall buzz of the festive season is inevitably stressful, both physically and mentally, leading to fatigue. Finding strategies to ease your stress and holiday fatigue is key to experiencing the full magic of the most wonderful time of the year.
Why we experience holiday fatigue
Amid a busy, overscheduled life, festivities can give us more pep in our step, leaving time for relaxation and fun. Research shows that participating in cultural and social traditions like those over the winter holidays creates a sense of connection and positivity, fostering a sense of altruism, goodwill and generosity.
However, 62% of Americans feel the holidays take their stress levels to moderate or extreme levels, and only 2% claim to have no stress during this time, according to a survey. Top stressors include finances (inflation, shopping) and challenging interactions with extended family, kids, and partners. On top of mental stressors, physical demands from cooking, cleaning, shopping, and decorating can add up, tempting you to hibernate under the covers rather than celebrate.
So, almost all of us can use practical ways to effectively minimize stress and give our bodies the best shot of handling unavoidably stressful times. Consider what might be contributing to your stress and fatigue and what you need to help cope, using these tips to help.
Tips to beat holiday fatigue
Communicate your needs and boundaries
A good first step to avoiding holiday fatigue is to determine just how much of your time and energy you can give to more demanding activities, whether that’s hosting a get-together, volunteering, attending parties, or baking. It’s vital to ask for help when you need it and learn to say no to things that zap too much of your energy.
Practice good sleep hygiene
Sleep is likely one of the first factors you think of when it comes to relieving holiday fatigue, but stress can impact your sleep quality by making falling and staying asleep more difficult. On the flip side, getting poor sleep makes managing stress a lot harder. Practicing good sleep hygiene by sticking to consistent sleep and wake times, avoiding bright screens an hour before bed, and keeping your room dark and cool will all encourage better sleep.
Nourish your body
What goes into your body has a profound impact on how you feel. Food and drink, after all, provide all the fuel your body needs to function. Eating regularly and enough without overdoing it is vital for feeling your best and avoiding holiday fatigue. Focusing on foods packed with nutrients can support your metabolism, brain, inflammation levels, and energy. For instance, B vitamins, found in whole grains, meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, and legumes, support healthy stress and energy levels.
Codeage Methylfolate B Complex is an easy way to support your diet, ensuring you get enough B vitamins. Alternatively, you can try a supplement with adaptogens and other mood and energy-supporting ingredients. Adaptogens are plants that are thought to help balance stress levels and promote calm. These include ashwagandha, rhodiola, eleuthero and tulsi, which you can take as supplements or add to foods and drinks. Codeage Meditate Vitamins include ashwagandha, Rhodiola, arabica fruit extract, and a magnolia bark compound (DHH-B) to help support cognitive function, energy, and stress levels.
Find time for exercise
Getting active is a sure way to tackle fatigue and stress. Even though exercising is one of the last things you likely want to do when feeling run down, it buffers against stressful times, making you more resilient and less likely to feel weary from physical and mental demands. Exercise also boosts your mood and helps you feel more focused and alert, combating holiday fatigue and the brain fog that comes with it.
Try breathwork
Breathing exercises are a quick and practical way to ease stress and settle into a relaxed state so you can rest and recover, warding off fatigue. But lesser-known activating breathwork practices can actually increase your energy and focus so you feel less of that holiday fatigue. Use breathwork practices such as cyclic sighing (inhale through the nose, take a sip more of air, slowly exhale through the mouth with a sigh) and 4-7-8 breathing to promote better mood, calm, and relaxation.
To boost your focus and alertness, try Breath of Fire (take rapid, rhythmic inhales and exhales through your nose, focusing your diaphragm’s movement) or Wim Hof Method (take 30-40 deep breaths, exhale fully, and hold your breath as long as comfortable; inhale deeply and hold for 15 seconds).
Find balance for better holidays
While the holidays are a time for joy and connection, it’s important to recognize the potential for stress and fatigue that come along with the season. If you’re proactive and tackle these challenges with tips like those above, you’ll have better energy for a more fulfilling and enjoyable holiday season. Implementing strategies such as boundary setting, healthy sleep habits, regular exercise, breathwork, and mindful nutrition can go a long way in mitigating stress and fatigue. Make a goal to savor the magic of the holidays while prioritizing your well-being for a balanced, memorable festive season.
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