The Holidays for many means decorating, Christmas movies, and parties.  But it can also mean stretching yourself and your wallet too thin, stressful family get-togethers, and a few extra pounds.

So why is it that some women seem to sail through the holidays unscathed, while others wear the stress of the season on their sleeves?  Sometimes it’s not about whether or not you feel the holiday stress, but rather how you bounce back.

We sought out some tried and true pieces of advice and remedies for recovering after the holidays – little tips passed down from friends and family that will get your relationships, routine, and waistline back on track.

Your Relationships

The holidays are a great time to catch up with old friends, get to know new ones better, and spend quality time with family.  But during the holidays our relationships can feel the strain.

After a season of ‘togetherness’ with friends and family, some couples feel as if they haven’t spent any time alone the whole month of December.  As soon as your holiday obligations are over, one tip is to plan a special day with your significant other.  It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive; the key is that the two of you are spending time alone, focusing on each other.  Sometimes a relaxing night in with popcorn and a movie can make a huge difference in putting things back on track.

And how about your relationship with yourself?  Make a clean break from holiday stress and take an afternoon to relax in peace and quiet.  Take a bubble bath and read that book you have been meaning to get to. Treat yourself to a trip to the spa for a manicure or pedicure once the holidays wind down.

Your relationship with your community is also one that can feel strain at holiday season.  Christmas is a time that many people dig deep and give back to the community.  However, many women feel stress and guilt for not having the time during the holidays to help out those in need.

One tip to mending this relationship is to make a tradition of giving back, through volunteering or donations to local groups, after the holiday season.  Run a January food or clothing drive.  You will have more time and energy to really focus on how you want to give back, and the local community groups and shelters will appreciate the post-holiday effort.

Your Mind

One of the causes of holiday stress is the disruption of routine.   For some people, their regular schedule gets put on the backburner for a day, or a week, but even the whole month of December can get shifted around holiday parties, shopping, decorating, and entertaining.

Once the holidays are over jump right back into your routine to set your mind at ease.  Make check lists for things that you have had to put off that may be causing you stress.  Even checking off just one thing from your list a day will not only get you back on track, it will also give you peace of mind that you are on top of things yet again.

The same advice goes for your pets.  The holidays can cause stress not only to people, but to family pets as well.  Long car rides, full houses, unfamiliar surroundings, loud music, less exercise and sneaking snacks at holiday parties – all of these things can put a lot of stress on your pets.  Pets crave routine, and don’t take well to change.

Once the holidays are over, get your pet back on his or her schedule as soon as possible.  A new chew toy during all of the holiday mayhem can’t hurt.

Your Body

Was the past month disastrous to your workout routine and diet?  Daily workouts get pushed to the side when our schedules start to fill up, and all of the parties generally means added calories.

Just like getting your mind back on track, the best way for your body to recover after the holiday season is to get right into your normal routine.  Don’t let one week without workouts drag into the next week.  And don’t fall victim to ‘it will be my New Year’s resolution’ procrastination: for many people New Year’s resolutions come with an open invitation to break them.

Once the parties are over get right back on track with your nutrition and exercise routines.  The sooner you do it, the less guilty you will feel, and your body-conscious stress will subside.

For an extra boost of relief try incorporating a short yoga session into your schedule geared towards alleviating stress.  Poses like Upward Arm Stretch, Right Angle Pose, Downward Facing Dog, and Supported Chest Opener will do the trick.

Kick start your metabolism with a post-holiday detox, not of the depriving maple syrup and cayenne pepper variety, but rather a plan that consists of drinking at least eight cups of water a day, and eating whole, unprocessed foods like fresh, seasonal produce and whole grains.

Go cold turkey on the snacks, sweets, and fat-laden foods, and flush out your system.  If you need a little help with your detox go to your local health food store and pick up a bottle of aloe vera juice.  Drink two ounces a day, and your digestive system will thank you.

In the end, no matter what your traditions and obligations are the holidays are a peculiar mixture of togetherness, nostalgia, and yes stress.  But happily, the sooner you break away from the source of stress once the Christmas trees have hit the curb, the sooner you will be back on track.

by Heather Loney