3 Ways to Reduce Stress for Better Thyroid Health This Holiday Season

As wonderful as the winter holidays can be, the holiday season is a major source of stress for many of us — especially those with thyroid issues and other chronic illnesses. From concerns about celebrating safely amidst COVID-19 to other seasonal stressors such as shopping for loved ones, budgeting for gifts, preparing healthier alternatives to our favorite holiday foods, and prepping our homes for guests, holiday stress is very real. This added stress negatively affects our thyroid health in several ways.

As one example, chronic stress increases cortisol levels in the body. When our bodies produce too much cortisol, the thyroid gland starts to work in overdrive and we may begin to experience worsening thyroid symptoms like fatigue, body aches and pains, memory issues, and brittle hair and nails. We may also experience depression, dry skin, and cold intolerance, which isn’t ideal for those of us living in cold winter climates.

While stress is a normal part of life and isn’t completely avoidable, there are several steps you can take to reduce holiday stress for better physical, mental, and emotional health. Here are three ways to ease stress as you navigate the upcoming holiday season!

1. Practice Self-Care

The holidays may be a season of giving, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give a little love to yourself as well. Even when you’re busy shopping for gifts, upholding the Elf on the Shelf tradition, and checking off the activities on your family’s holiday bucket list, making time for self-care is crucial. It’s even more vital when you’re already experiencing thyroid-related issues.

Practicing self-care can be as simple as getting eight hours of sleep at night, doing something you love (like reading, painting, or watching your favorite television show), or even soaking in a hot Epsom salts bath. Some other ways to practice self-care during the busy holiday season include:

Walking in nature.
Exercising, practicing yoga, or going for a jog.
Mindful breathing.
Cuddling an animal companion.
Eating plenty of gut-friendly foods like sauerkraut and kimchi.
Listening to music that soothes you.

There is no one way to practice self-care: The right self-care activities for you will depend on your stressors, interests, and lifestyle. The key is to find a self-care activity that helps you to feel your best physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.

2. Make Healthier Alternatives to Holiday Favorites

Food is a major source of holiday stress for those of us with food allergies and sensitivities, chronic illness, and autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease. And unless we’re personally preparing all of the food we’ll be consuming, it can be challenging to determine whether a food item is safe for us to eat at our holiday gatherings with family and friends.

Fortunately, sticking to a thyroid-friendly diet during the holidays is possible. Rather than saving face at the dinner table and suffering the consequences after consuming an inflammatory food, talk to your hosts in advance about preparing allergen-friendly alternatives to your favorite holiday dishes. Your hosts may be up for preparing something out of the ordinary, or you could bring a few of your own dishes to share with the group. A few thyroid-friendly recipes for the holidays include mashed sweet potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts, baked butternut squash, and gluten-free dinner rolls.

3. Don’t Overbook Yourself

As much as we’d love to check off each item on our holiday to-do list, there are only so many days during the month of December, and the majority of them are spent working, caring for our children, and decorating for the holiday season. Therefore, it’s important that we avoid overbooking ourselves, as this will only lead to more stress and anxiety during an already challenging time of the year.

As the holidays near, make a list of the festivities that uplift your spirits and the ones that overwhelm you. Make an effort to tackle the traditions and activities that support your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and skip the ones that leave you feeling drained. The key is to choose a few holiday activities you enjoy and say no to the rest.

Ease Holiday Stress for a Happier, Healthier Thyroid

Chronic stress aggravates thyroid issues, and thyroid flare-ups are a surefire way to put a damper on your holiday plans. But by practicing self-care, avoiding inflammatory foods, and saying no to the festivities that do more harm to your health than good, you’ll reduce stress this holiday season while improving the overall function of your thyroid.

The holiday season is a stressful time of the year for many, but I can help you to navigate holiday stress and improve your overall health and wellness as we head into the New Year. Schedule a free discovery call to learn about the health coaching services I offer. Happy Holidays!