Mental Health & the Holidays: 3 Ways to Move Through a Less-Stress Christmas! by Erica Hornthal

It is not always easy to stay calm during the holiday season. Between the "must have" toy that is out of stock or the holiday meal that was overcooked, we are bound to come up against something that challenges our mental health this holiday season. So how can we enhance our calm and remain grounded? Try these three tricks to stay grounded and keep moving through the season! 

• Breathe: Our bodies do it involuntarily, but to take full advantage of the benefits of breathing, we must be aware and mindful. Practice deep breathing by inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. This will slow down the heart rate, relax the nervous system and connect you to yourself when things begin to feel out of control. 
• Stretch: Start by simply reaching your body up or out while breathing in. Stretching through every inch of your body allows for better circulation, more control of our bodies which correlates to our thoughts, and a connection to the present moment. This can be done before you even get out of bed in the morning. 
• Listen to Your Body: Take body breaks throughout the day to reduce tension and stress. Think head, shoulders, knees and toes. Move out the tension.

How do you relieve stress?