A Holiday Gift for a Stress-Free Season

By Nancy A. Palermo, MD

As we move from Thanksgiving to the New Year, our calendars fill quickly with events, travel, and endless to-do lists. In the rush to make the holidays special for everyone else, we often neglect our own health and well-being.

Before long, disrupted sleep, skipped workouts, and poor eating habits start to take their toll, leaving us frazzled, fatigued, and feeling more like the Grinch than Santa’s helper.

The truth is, stress has become as much a holiday tradition as mistletoe and eggnog.

But it doesn’t have to be. With mindful choices and a few simple habits, you can give yourself the ultimate gift this season: peace of mind and a healthy body.

Rethink Your Holiday Mindset

The first step toward a calmer holiday season is reframing how we view stress and expectations.

• Simplify and prioritize. Say “no” when necessary. Focus on what truly brings you joy and meaning.
• Choose experiences over excess. Gifts of health, like a yoga class, massage, or cooking lesson, often mean more than material things.
• Protect your routine. Maintain your usual sleep, hydration, and movement habits, even on busy days.

When we stay grounded in self-care, our stress levels and our cortisol stay balanced.

Restore Balance Through Breath and Movement

Chronic stress disrupts the HPA axis (the body’s stress-control center), leading to elevated cortisol levels and downstream effects such as poor sleep, irritability, and digestive upset.

Fortunately, mindfulness practices can help restore balance:

• Meditation, yoga, or tai chi calms the nervous system and supports resilience.
• Breathwork may be one of the most powerful tools of all. A Stanford study found that just 5 minutes of deep breathing with prolonged exhales significantly improved mood, reduced anxiety, and lowered cortisol levels.

You can practice this anywhere, even while cooking, wrapping gifts, or waiting in line.

Supportive Supplements for the Season

When stress and holiday indulgence are at their peak, a few targeted supplements can offer extra support.

For stress balance and relaxation:

• Cortisol Calm (Klaire Labs) – 1–2 capsules nightly, up to twice daily for up to six weeks
• L-Theanine (Pure Encapsulations) – 100–400 mg every 12 hours to ease anxiety and promote calm
• Slow-Release Melatonin (Pure Encapsulations) – 1–2 tablets after dinner for short-term sleep support

For digestive balance:

• GI Repair (Vital Nutrients) – 1–2 capsules up to three times daily for occasional stomach discomfort or twice daily for prevention during indulgent meals
• Daily Probiotic: Thera-Biotic Complete (Klaire Labs) – one capsule daily with food

For immune protection:
A balanced gut supports a stronger immune response, helping your body fend off cold, flu, and other seasonal viruses.

These Supplements are all available at Thrive

The Greatest Gift: Consistency

Stress may be inevitable, but its impact on your health doesn’t have to be.
Make your well-being non-negotiable. Schedule downtime, keep moving, nourish yourself, and stock your cabinet with tools that support your stress response.

With a little planning and a lot of presence, you can stay healthy, happy, and jolly through January.