The December holiday season is just around the corner, and the fun and excitement often come paired with the stress of a busy schedule and hectic preparations. On top of your regular roles and responsibilities, it’s easy to stretch yourself thin while you’re trying to relax.
At South Central Family Practice Clinic in Soldotna, Alaska, we’d like you to start 2026 on a healthy and happy note, and that may just mean keeping stress under control through the holidays.
Don’t let holiday stress get you down. Take a look at our list of seven tips for a healthier season. We’re sure you’ll find some or all of these suggestions useful in managing your festivities.
Parties, dinners, events, and school plays all need to fit within the same hours during which the rest of your life takes place. Now is the time to prioritize the important and take a flyer on the optional.
Focus your efforts and time on the events that mean the most to you, and limit those that feel like obligations. Make — and keep — a schedule so you don’t celebrate yourself into time deficits.
Late-night soirees may be fun at the time, but straining your circadian rhythms for the sake of the party may mean you’re nursing a cold on New Year’s Eve. Make sure your schedule allows for maintaining your sleep cycle.
Stay active, even though it may be tempting to steal time from your exercise schedule. Don’t skip nutritious meals to make yourself hungry for delicious but less-than-healthy seasonal treats. All these routines act as stress busters, so you run a risk by messing with success.
“Eat, drink, and be merry” goes the festive phrase, but alcohol is a depressant and raises your stress level despite initial feelings of relaxation. Go easy on the cocktails and boost your water intake to counter alcohol’s dehydrating effects.
It’s nice to be in demand, but it’s okay to say no, particularly when you know you don’t have the time to do a task justice. Know when your plate is full and protect your carefully planned holiday schedule.
A depleted bank account or maxed out credit cards aren’t going to make the yuletide bright. If you make only one budget this year, a holiday budget may have the biggest stress-relief benefits.
Just as breaking tasks into manageable pieces makes a job easier, having someone else complete some of those pieces saves you time. Let someone else peel the potatoes, wrap the presents, or trim the tree.
Sometimes, beating stress is simply that easy. Stop. Look around. Enjoy the fruits of your seasonal preparations. Put your feet up and watch a seasonal movie favorite. Care for yourself.
Should illness strike over the holidays, contact South Central Family Practice Clinic for medical assistance. Call or click to schedule an appointment or telemedicine visit at the first sign of trouble. We’re standing by.
