Feel like the holiday spirit beat you with a yule log? - Here's your holiday survival kit!

It's the most wonderful...ly CRAZY time of the year! While there sure is a whole host of joy to be found this season, there's definitely a flipside. With the helter-skelter, the running here, there, & everywhere, the cooking, the cleaning, the shopping, the socializing, the Doing All The Things - sooner or later, you can sure end up feeling like the Holiday Spirit beat you a Yule Log. Ouch! Read on to discover what to watch out for, and tips to survive the season.

The Struggles:

Let's start with the no-brainer: STRESS!

No matter how happy you are to visit with friends and family, to attend parties, and to give gifts that show you care, you're going to feel added stress.

Stress doesn't just come from situations that tick you off. It can come from pleasant experiences, too. (My fellow introverts probably know that all too well.) Why would happy, fun situations make you stressed? Because it's a change from routine.

We are creatures of habit, and when we deviate from our regular programming, our subconcious starts blaring the warning sirens. Hello, stress! Your subconcious does NOT like change, even if it's a good thing and something you consciously want. So it tries really hard to make you really uncomfortable, in hopes that you will quickly revert back to your old baseline of activities. And if you're doing something different from your usual that you DON'T want to do, guess what? Those warning sirens are going to be even louder. You're going to feel even more stress. Oof!

Sickness! 

There's definitely a big increase in the number of people coming down with something at the end of the year, and the frequency people get sick. Most blame the cold, blustery winter weather. But what about places with warmer climates, or unseasonable temperatures? (St. Louis, I'm looking at you, with your 60 degree high today!) The weather isn't the only thing that makes us sick this time of year.

For one, we have greater exposure to the various bugs out there: Frequent trips to crowded stores, rubbing elbows with everybody at the office party, gatherings with friends & family you don't see often, playing with their kids - we are around A LOT more people than usual right now. Which means more chances of encountering strains of bacterial or viral illnesses.

The other kicker this time of year? We are immune-compromised, which means it's that much easier for a minor cold or sinus infection to become a major issue. Increased stress levels and increased intake of sugary foods & other unhealthy albeit tasty eats is a double whammy that greatly weakens your immune system.

If an illness is a rain drop, and your immune system is an umbrella, you can visualize that it can typically keep away illnesses that come up here and there. But now imagine that your immune system umbrella is made of paper, and you're in a downpour of illness raindrops. It's almost inevitable that something is going to get through. 

Soreness! 

Normally I'd mention slips & falls on ice, here, but with the aformentioned warm temps, not too many of us are dealing with that issue this year. But we are still dealing with other causes of seasonal soreness.

What can leave you hurting, besides blatant injury? That stress we just talked about causes prolonged tension in your muscles, especially the ones that bring your shoulders up around your ears. Stress can also bring on headaches. You may feel sore after walking the mall umpteen times searching dozens of stores for the right gifts, and schlepping heavy bags around as you hunt. And you may feel pretty battered after hours in a car or on a plane, traveling for the holidays.

Well that all sounds like a Bah Humbug take on the Holidays!

What can you do to bring back the Happy & Merry, instead?

The Solutions:

Set aside a little time for some of your favorite routines.

Maintaining a touch of your personal version of normalcy will help you cope with all the seasonal extras. Enjoying your favorite cup of cheer will help melt away the smaller stresses (I love a good hot cocoa, or my favorite chai). A relaxing Reiki session will help you cope & carry on during major stress. And if you're struggling to make permanent changes to improve your life, stay tuned for my upcoming blog post with invaluable tips to assist your transition!

Strengthen your immune system!

A chiropractic adjustment can actually boost your immune system, because it restores the normal functions of the body, including brain-body communication & coordination of efforts - and that includes the efforts of sheilding you from illness!

And to soothe your achin' bacon,

you can find relief with epsom salt baths, Biofreeze, a massage, and/or a chiropractic treatment with me.

Ready to transform your Seasonal Stress into a truly Happy Holiday?

Give me a call at 636-751-3150.

Happy Holidays everyone!

~Dr. Vicky