Exercise Can Make the Holiday Season Less Stressful

As we move into the Holiday season, movies will start, and they humorously depict holiday stress.  The classics National Lampoon’s Christmas, Home Alone, and Elf all contain funny scenes we have come to love, but our real-life Christmas movie is not so amusing.  Holidays in our house do look a little different.  The kiddos are all away and begin to come for Thanksgiving, their 1^st request of the season, “Please decorate before we get home.” Mrs. Spine never does anything small. The decorations started on Nov 1^st.  I believe she puts up more trees every year!  As evidenced by another one that came in the mail yesterday.

There are ways to make the Holidays easier and mitigate the emotional and mental stress, which we have all learned takes a physical toll on our bodies.  Mrs. Spine has decided her stress-free decoration tip:  buy a “pencil tree,” decorate and at the end of the season, wrap it with plastic wrap and push it into the closet fully decorated. She literally unpacked 3 trees in 5 minutes.  (Yes 3, but this is 3 of 7)

The easiest way to physically handle the holidays … EXERCISE!  I know it’s a dreaded word, but exercise can make the holiday season less stressful for many reasons:

1- Reduces Stress Hormones (cortisol)

 

Physical activity lowers cortisol levels and triggers the release of endorphins—your natural mood boosters—helping you stay calmer during a busy season. Cortisol is not always bad; you need it, but issues happen when cortisol is too high for too long. Cortisol regulates blood sugar and inflammation and gives you energy to handle stress, commonly known as “fight or flight”.

Honestly, it all starts here as high Cortisol can cause weight gain, sleep issues, higher anxiety, mood swings, hormone imbalances, weakened immune system, and digestive and metabolism issues.

2- Improves Sleep Quality

High cortisol interrupts sleep patterns.  Regular movement helps you fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply. This allows your body the rest and reset it desperately needs.

3- Boosts Mental Clarity and Mood

Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, improving focus, decision-making, and emotional resilience—useful when juggling shopping, hosting, and family dynamics. Remember, your in laws are likely coming! No joke, there is a lot to do in the coming weeks, and exercise can help keep you in an even mood.

4- Provides Healthy Alone Time

A workout can act as a mental break from crowds, family obligations, and constant stimuli. Even a 10-minute walk can reset your energy.

5- Balances Holiday Eating and Routines

Physical activity supports digestion, stabilizes energy levels, and helps maintain a sense of control and consistency when holiday indulgences and irregular schedules pile up. Also, it’s all connected. When you are tired and stressed, you start to crave bad food or do not care what you are eating.  There are also increased sweets and treats readily available.  Exercising can help you make healthier choices, or at a minimum, negate the bad food so you can be a net zero instead of high on calories, which leads to holiday weight gain.

Set yourself up for success.

Mrs. Spine attends an 8 am class on Saturday mornings. The best way for her to get moving and get there on time?  She sleeps in her exercise clothes and puts the shoes by the door.  Up and out the door in under 5 min, no excuses.

 

Something beats nothing.

• A walk is better than skipping.
• Stretching is better than skipping.
• Five minutes is better than skipping.
• Momentum matters more than perfection

Habit-stacking works:

• Listen to your favorite holiday playlist
• Watch a Christmas movie while walking on a treadmill
• Audiobook + long walk = win