For many people, the holidays bring joy, family, friends, and celebration. However, the holidays can also bring pain.
That pain can be the physical kind from long hours of travel, rushing, neck tension from stress or carrying packages, or digestive discomfort from too many holiday treats.
Or that pain might be the emotional kind, including fatigue, overwhelm, loneliness, or the pressure from feeling the need to meet everyone’s expectations of you and the season. Regardless of what form we’re talking about, the pain of the holidays is real and affects just about everyone at some point in some way.
The good news is, all of these different types of pain are either preventable or manageable and can also be seen as an opportunity to listen to what your body and mind are trying to tell you.
The Physical Pain
Your spine and nervous system can take a beating during the holidays. Cortisol increases from rushing or trying to do too much, long car rides, airplane seats, heavy bags, marathon shopping trips, and endless hours cooking or wrapping gifts can all take a toll. That combined with changes in your routine, maybe getting a little (or a lot) less sleep, add in some major dietary changes, and your body and spirit can quickly slip out of alignment.
While things might be great at Thanksgiving, usually sometime after your first holiday shopping trip and before your first big party, stiffness, headaches, or back pain appear. They may seem to come out of nowhere, but in reality, they’re the result of stress and strain building up over time.
Spending quality time with your chiropractor during the holiday season can not only help you release tension but also maintain your posture and give you more energy.
By keeping your spine aligned and your nervous system clear, you will be able to adapt better to all the extra activity, travel, and even indulgence that comes with the holidays.
The Emotional Pain
For many people it’s the emotional toll of the holidays that has the greatest impact. If that’s you, whether you are alone, missing loved ones, managing family drama during the holidays, or feeling the pressure of wanting to make every moment “perfect” for family and friends, you can find yourself feeling frazzled with a lot of the holiday season left to go. You might find yourself moody or emotional, your energy at a low, and your sleep not so good.
Even if you’ve already done all your shopping online and aren’t doing any travel, this emotional stress triggers physical tension (and vice versa). Getting stuck in this never-ending loop drains the joy of the holidays faster than finding out there is no Santa Clause.
By caring for your spine and nervous system during the holidays, you’re not just dealing with your physical pain, you’re also helping your body to handle stress.
A balanced nervous system will keep you centered and resilient and is the best way to make it through whatever holiday chaos may be in store.
Give Yourself a Gift
The best gift you can give yourself this holiday season is to prioritize your health. By not being at your best, you are cheating yourself and the ones you love from the best of the holiday season.
Here are a few ways to ease the pain of the holidays and finish the year strong:
· Stay active. Even short walks help keep your body and circulation moving. Keep it “your time” by taking those moments to decompress and enjoy the moment. Or make those holiday calls to connect with people you love who you won’t see this holiday season.
· Drink pristine (NO fluoride) water. Consuming too much coffee, alcohol, and sugary drinks won’t keep you hydrated. In fact, they can even dehydrate you. Not being properly hydrated, or worse, dehydrated, is bad for muscles, joints, and digestion. Now is the time to double down on water!
· Don’t skip your chiropractic visits. Staying aligned means stain pain and stress free. And that’s a real gift.
· Rest when you need it. No one said (or thinks) you have to do it all, except maybe you. Take a break and think about that.
Turn Holiday Pain into Holiday Power
The holidays will always bring their share of stress. However, how your body and mind handle it is up to you.
With the right care, you can move through the season with more comfort, connection, and calm, and enter the new year aligned, energized, and ready for whatever comes next! Don't have a chiropractor?
Find a 100 Year Lifestyle® provider near you today!