The holidays are upon us and right on the heels of a particularly difficult election year. This means we’re not only negotiating the normal stressors of traveling, planning and gift buying but we’re also trying to balance the heated differences in our loved ones that elections can exacerbate. So, this means that our holiday gatherings this year may be the perfect (or imperfect!) storm that increases stress, anxiety and depression. 

Often, the most common remedy you see when you google “alleviating holiday election stress” is to meditate and while meditation is extremely helpful and we completely support it, finding a safe space to meditate in a stressful environment isn’t always possible.

So, what can you do to keep yourself centered and still enjoy the people you love? 

Here are three ways you can help alleviate stress, including adding herbal supplements to your daily wellness regimen. AND, some bonus material!

Take Breaks

One of the biggest struggles we have around difficult situations with family is thinking we have to endure the stressful conversations or environments in their entirety. We feel that if we don’t, we may make the situation worse. This means we sometimes stay in rooms, at the dinner table and/or in the houses of people we visit during the holidays even at the expense of our mental and physical health. 

When actually, it’s taking a break and walking outside or going for a quick drive to the grocery store for a last minute ingredient that can provide a lot of relief in the tension in yourself and in the space. Sometimes just that few minutes of reprieve can discharge the energy in your body and can help bring balance to not only yourself but to the physical space that you’re in.

Before you enter into a situation that may make you feel anxious or stressed, pre-plan with yourself and/or with your friends and close family members on ways you can relieve yourself of tense situations and practice these methods ahead of time. That way, when the tense situation is present, you’re all prepped to get the break your body and mind deserve.

Stay Hydrated

Recently, I wrote a blog about the top 3 things you can do for your health on a daily basis and went into detail on why staying hydrated is just plain good for your body. Did you know it’s also good for your brain and mental health? Staying hydrated can keep your brain and your hormones functioning properly which means that you’re able to process better and remain more focused and calm in stressful situations. Doing so can also mean you can lower your anxiety and depression.

Around the holiday, alcohol and caffeine are normalized as a way of coping with holiday stress – you can see both in nearly all movies, commercials and social situations like office parties and gatherings with family. We stay up late having alcohol-based drinks with family and friends and then drink caffeine during the day to maintain childcare, work, travel, cooking, shopping and the general holiday rush. 

What this can do to our brain and hormones is keep us constantly dehydrated and overstimulated. And that spells trouble for our ability to sleep well and keep calm in stressful family holiday circumstances. 

A well-hydrated brain and body are key for adapting and coping with stress. So, opt for a mocktail or water in between alcohol-based drinks and throw in a smoothie with your coffee and breakfast in the morning. Make a gallon of fruit water and keep it in the fridge to refill your glass during the holiday or better yet, keep it in a pitcher on the dinner table and pass it around regularly. You’ll notice a huge difference with your energy and your patience!

Try Supplements for Anxiety, Sleeplessness and More

At Wholly Holistic, we carry a lot of supplements, tinctures and drinks to help your body more naturally cope with the stress that gathering with friends and family may cause. Adding in these natural remedies may be just the thing that helps you feel balanced and flexible in circumstances that may otherwise have you feeling fraught.

We have a nice line of tinctures for anxiety and stress that include ingredients like lemon balm and lavender, which help relax your body and mind. You can add a squeeze or two of these tinctures to the gallon of fruit water that I mentioned and have a relaxing botanical and hydrating drink right at your fingertips. 

We also carry a line of homeopathic and herbal supplements for sleep that can help you sleep longer, deeper and with more regularity. These remedies include natural herbals like passion flower and valerian root, which can help relax the mind and body into slumber.

We have a nice line of tinctures for anxiety and stress that include ingredients like lemon balm and lavender, which help relax your body and mind. You can add a squeeze or two of these tinctures to the gallon of fruit water that I mentioned and have a relaxing botanical and hydrating drink right at your fingertips. 

We also carry a line of homeopathic and herbal supplements for sleep that can help you sleep longer, deeper and with more regularity. These remedies include natural herbals like passion flower and valerian root, which can help relax the mind and body into slumber.

What’s Next?

We all try to do our best during the holidays! It’s a daily balance to enjoy the holidays to the fullest and election years make that balance even harder. Try to be gentle on yourself. At Wholly Holistic, we can work with you to meet your health goals. Stop in, call or message us today to ask all your questions and to schedule a health coaching appointment with one of our certified practitioners.

See you at the shop!

Sources:

Healthline, December 2020:  Are there other connections between hydration and mood?

National Library of Medicine, January 2019:  Narrative Review of Hydration and Selected Health Outcomes in the General Population
National Library of Medicine, September 2018:  Drinking plain water is associated with decreased risk of depression and anxiety in adults: Results from a large cross-sectional study