To say the Holidays CAN be a stressful time feels like an understatement. They are stressful really no matter what we do. Instead of thinking about how we can “de-stress” from this busy time I want to instead address how we can avoid some of the stress in the first place to help make the Holidays the happy time they are meant to be! I know you probably don’t have time to think about getting a massage or having an epsom salt bath right now where there are tons of holiday things to take care of so I’m taking the preventative route instead! 

1. Try your best to stay in routine. Holidays are famous for throwing us out of whack starting with Thanksgiving, right through to New Years and when January 1st comes around we’re feeling a little (or a lot) of track and craving routine! We can avoid this by at least trying to keep our routine in tact by eating meals at regular times, and continuing to plan and include workouts. I don’t know about you but if I have a workout scheduled for the next day I’m way more likely to ‘prepare’ by eating better and opting for 2 glasses of wine max. This helps me enjoy the evening but also have a great workout the next day and start that day on the right foot!

2. When you are feeling overwhelmed whether it’s in the middle of a chaotic mall or waking up feeling like your to-do list is a mile long, step back and take a few breaths. Stephen and I both use a meditation app to help us get centered and grounded at the start of the day. Sometimes upon waking up, we feel very rushed to eat quickly, get ready and get to work but taking just 3-10 minutes to sit quietly before the business ahead has helped me carry that same sense of calmness throughout the day.

3. Choosing healthy options when you are out and about. I’m not talking about Christmas parties or events, that’s the time we should indulge and enjoy! I mean during those busy days of running errands and gift shopping. Don’t feel guilty about eating out! You and I both know these are jam packed days and we aren’t always going to be able to prep 3 tupperware containers of food to bring with us in the car. Sorry but I’m not eating cold chicken and rice with mushy vegetables while I run errands LOL. Instead I’m going to grab an option I can feel good about like a smoothie from Smoothie King. This year they brought in so many new options for smoothies, superfoods, and add-ins, making it easy to get in more protein and more fiber with a smoothie that has clean ingredients! They also have veggie and vegan options so they’ve got all their bases covered!

4. Get enough sleep. This one miiiight feel like the impossible but the benefits are really worth the effort. Getting in that 6-8 hours helps us avoid getting sick, burnt out or increasing the stress we feel in stressful situation. Set an alarm for ‘bed time’ OR if your mornings are flexible you can set your alarm for 6-8 hours after you go to sleep no matter what time you go to bed. So if you go to bed at 11pm set it for 7am, but the next day if you go to bed at 1am set it for 9am. It might feel unproductive to sleep late but getting in those sleeping hours will pay off in productivity!

Like I said the holidays are busy, stressful and overwhelming at times. I want to encourage you to beat the burnout by trying your best to stick to your routine, taking deep breaths when necessary, choosing nourishing options like Smoothie King when you’re gift shopping or running errands, and getting enough sleep! The Holidays are meant to be happy and relaxing so make sure you take care of yourself first and we’ll all be heading into the new year strong!

Thank you to Smoothie King for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own.