With the holidays around the corner, busy home, social and work schedules can send stress levels through the roof. Combined with cold and flu season this time of year, it’s important to keep your immune system strong to prevent getting sick at a time when nobody wants to feel feverish or congested. Prepare yourself this year with all natural medicines that can help you keep on schedule for a happy holiday season.

 

An important factor in keeping your health and your wits is getting a good night’s sleep. Sleeplessness can lead to daytime irritability, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, and immune system suppression. If you are tossing and turning, there are things you can do to help relax into sleep naturally.

 

While we generally enjoy the holidays, they can be stressful. You don’t need to “suffer” through the holidays. Enjoy a healthy, low-stress holiday season this year with the following tips.

 

Tips for reducing stress and improving sleep this holiday season:

 

• Avoid excess food and drinks before bedtime. Shoot for an early dinner, and choose fresh fruit over sugary treats. If you still decide to indulge in a slice of pie or cake, consume these sweet treats just after dinner rather than just before bedtime.

• Instead of a cup of coffee or hot toddy after dinner, enjoy a cup of herbal tea to help you relax in preparation for sleep — hops, passionflower, lemon balm, wild oats, chamomile, and valerian are a few herbs traditionally used to help promote relaxation.

• Create a calm sleep environment by ensuring your bedroom is dark and comfortable.

• For a sedating effect, you can listen to soothing music or take a warm bath with a few drops of chamomile or lavender oil.

• Try to incorporate daily stress-management techniques such as meditation or yoga.

• Tips for protecting yourself from the common cold and flu this holiday season:

• With all of the hand shakes at holiday parties, be sure to wash your hands often with soap and water, and try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth since that is often how the viruses enter the body.

• Improve your nutrition by keeping your intake of fresh fruits and veggies high, and hold off on excess sweets and alcoholic drinks.

 

• Take a high quality daily multi vitamin and mineral supplement to ensure adequate nutrition.

• Participate in moderate daily exercise (30 minutes a day), which has been shown to help boost the immune system

• Minimize your intake of alcohol and sugary and processed foods during the cold and flu season.

• Considering taking immune boosting supplements such as probiotics, elderberry syrup, and Vitamin D

• Be sure to contact your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms that continue for more than a few days or worsen despite treatment.

 

Stay healthy and enjoy the holidays!