5 Tips for Relieving Holiday Tension
The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone. Seeing the in-laws, making sure all presents are wrapped and ready, and traveling can all be stressful. This extra tension can end up in your neck and shoulder, resulting in knots, pain and tension, headaches, and other side effects.
Here are five ways to help relieve some of the extra holiday stress.
Watch Your Diet
Having a holiday feast is one of the biggest traditions for many families. While you may love to dive into all of the yummy dishes and desserts, be mindful of the things you put in your body.
What you put in your body has a huge effect on how your body operates. A lot of the dishes cooked are full of extra sodium, sugar, and ingredients that can cause inflammation in the body.
When you already struggle with inflammation, it is important to avoid it any more than necessary. Some examples of things to avoid are eggs, grains, processed sugars, and alcohol. Pass on the mulled wine and opt for water to help keep up with healthy eating.
Another issue with eating a lot more than usual at the holidays is the sluggish feeling it leaves you. Wanting to take a nap or lounge around on the couch means less movement and more stiffness.
Use Cushions
Back cushions and neck pillows should definitely be on your packing list when you get ready to travel. Whether you’re trying to sleep on a plane or in the car, you will sleep easier and have less neck pain by adding a little extra cushion. When the neck is bent over at an angle, it creates stiffness and pain.
Stay Warm
Cold joints are painful joints. If you suffer from arthritis, you know the cold winter air brings aches and pain.
Keep your neck and shoulders warm with a scarf, coat, and winter-appropriate clothes. A heat compress is a great investment to ensure your body can warm up and relax.
Allow Time for Rest
In between all of the errands and hanging decorations, allow your body to get some rest. You spend quite a bit of extra time on your feet during the holidays, and this leads to knee, hip, and foot pain.
Take a rest on the couch or by the fire with a good book. Whatever your idea of rest is, healing happens when you rest because your blood pressure drops, there is less demand on your heart, and you release relaxing hormones that reduce inflammation.
Exercise and Stretch
Exercising every day will help keep your muscles warm and strong with all of the lifting and running that goes on with the holidays. After you finish your workout, get a good stretch in to release the lactic acid. Progressive muscle relaxation is an excellent tool for exercise.
Book a physical therapy appointment before the onset of holiday chaos so that you can be better prepared. Ask about services like massage therapy to release trigger points before the stress begins.