Fighting back against the 'holiday blues'

If the holiday season has you feeling more stressed or depressed than blessed, you're not alone.

The holidays exhaust us in many ways – sometimes it’s family tension, financial strain, the pressure of responsibilities, or loneliness. This season can be the most wonderful time of the year while feeling like the most overwhelming. Throw a pandemic into the mix, and you may be feeling more stressed than ever. It can all take a toll on us emotionally and physically.

But you can fight back against what wears you down this holiday season.

“By keeping our minds and bodies healthy, we are primed to deal with stressful situations when they arise,” the American Psychological Association asserts.

Combat the holiday blues with the SWIFT method. Here are a few simple tips:

• Take time to check in on yourself. Between work, shopping, travel, and all the extra things needed to get done over the holidays, we hop from one thing to the next without pausing to check in and process how we’re feeling. Meditation gives us a time-out from the hustle and bustle to recognize our emotions. This helps us better manage stressful circumstances as they arise rather than letting disregarded emotions unconsciously control how we act and, ultimately, hurt our health.

• Don’t be a scrooge. Punch it out. When triggered by family or other stressors, punch and kick it out during a Krav Maga fitness routine before frustrations unintentionally creep out and turn you into a scrooge.

• Take care of your body and mind with one healthy meal a day and H20. The holidays are for indulging in feasts, cocktails and baked goodies. These especially sweet and savory treats can do a number on our bodies, though, by zapping energy levels, decelerating our metabolism, weakening our immune system, and negatively affecting our physical and mental condition. Try to eat one healthy meal a day to get much-needed nutrients and boost your water intake to help look and feel your best.

• Treat yourself to the gift of relaxation. Running around to get everything done is hard on your body. Treat yourself to a SWIFT chair massage using neuromuscular therapy – a precise treatment of the body’s soft tissues – to help relieve tension.

SWIFT works to transform your approach to everyday situations. Build up your strength to break through life’s everyday challenges, especially during the hectic holiday season.

We’d love to help you get started on that transformative path today! Head to our Memberships page, or contact us to learn more.