The holidays are stressful, aren’t they?  There’s extra travel, spending money, unhealthy junk food, and family arguments.  And while we can control some of these additional circumstances, we can’t control them all.  Even with the situations that we can’t control, we can try to control how we let it affect us.  I’ve learned a lot about letting things in instead of letting them roll off your shoulders, and it really makes a huge difference once you master that! So with the holidays coming up quickly, let’s discuss some healthy holiday habits what we can implement to help minimize any stress during this time of year!

Now, you may be wondering why I’m bringing this up now.  It is only September, after all.  But the thing is; unless you already do these things for stress relief on a regular basis, then you’re going to need a few weeks to fully implement these practices so that they’ll actually be helpful and not overwhelming when you need them!  I know that when I first started most of these habits, it took a while to get the hang of it. And while I was learning how to apply them to my life, I definitely felt overwhelmed.  So giving yourself time to adapt these habits will make it a much easier adjustment on you.

Healthy Holiday Habits for Stress Reduction

• Yoga – If you know me, you may be laughing at me suggesting this.  I mean, I have always had the hardest time getting into yoga.  I know it’s amazing, and I know that it can do wonderful things to your body and mind; but I just hadn’t been able to really develop a habit.  However, lately I’ve been doing online yoga classes from One + One Yoga*, and it’s been good!  They’ve got a good variety of classes, which helps keep me interested.  And the increased flexibility and decreased stress has been so helpful!
• Meditation/Prayer – I’ve been wanting to start meditation as a means of stress relief for a long time now, but I have such a hard time quieting my mind.  I wasn’t able to really get into it until I went to see a naturopath who did energy work on me a couple of months ago.  Suddenly, I was able to start focusing on meditation!  But one thing that is really important for beginners, try guided meditation.  It’s a lot easier to follow, helps you keep the focus, and you can still get great benefits from it!  Prayer during quiet time is definitely a type of meditation, and may be easier for some of you to focus on.  
• Positive Affirmations – I’ve noticed a lot of change with positive affirmations. It seems silly at first, to be talking to yourself, especially if you don’t even believe the things you’re saying.  But believe me when I say that eventually, you will believe those things.  Wholeheartedly.  And then everything changes when you shower yourself with positivity instead of focusing on how you’ve let yourself down.  It’s a game-changer.  Your body can hear you, and it knows what you say about it.  So be kind.
• Clean Eating – I know that a huge part of the holidays is food.  Rich, indulgent foods, like cookies, candies, cakes, breads, and more.  And while those foods can be comforting and they certainly taste amazing, they will wreak havoc on your body. They’ll cause inflammation, stress, and moodiness.  I’m not saying not to indulge, but we don’t have to indulge the entire holiday season!
• Keeping a Gratitude Journal – This one is a favorite.  I know that for myself, just taking the time daily to reflect on one positive thing that’s happened really helps me to focus on the blessings in my life instead of the stress.  Keeping a gratitude journal is one way that I am able to consistently keep my thoughts positive.  And we all know how negative thoughts create stress!

What are some go-to stress reduction techniques that you use to help relieve tension during difficult situations and seasons of life?

*Disclaimer: I was given a membership by One + One Yoga in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions, as always, are my own.