5 mind-body tips to relieve stress, bloat and exhaustion during the holidays
By Cynthia Lodite, December 6, 2025The holiday season is often painted as a time of joy, family, and celebration, but for many, it can also bring overwhelming stress, fatigue, and uncomfortable bloating from indulgent meals.
Balancing festive commitments, travel, and last-minute shopping can take a toll on both the body and mind. Luckily, a few intentional mind-body practices can help you stay grounded, energised, and light both mentally and physically.
Here are five simple yet effective tips to relieve stress, ease bloating, and combat exhaustion during the holidays.
1 Move after eating
Within 20 minutes of finishing your meal, take a 10-minute walk, even if it’s just around the house or yard. Light movement supports digestion and reduces blood sugar spikes.
If the weather permits, consider getting everyone outside for a family activity such as a backyard kickball game, something that gets everyone moving together.
Even simple movements from the comfort of your couch will help. Try a seated pillow twist: Sit tall, squeezing a pillow between your knees and holding another pillow in your hands at chest height.
Exhale as you rotate from your mid-back to the right side, touching the pillow to the couch seat as far behind you as you can reach. Inhale back to the center and repeat on the other side. Alternate through 10 to 20 repetitions.
2 Eat with awareness
Put your fork down between bites. Chew thoroughly. Notice the flavors, textures and the point at which you feel satisfied rather than stuffed.
Research shows that eating slowly reduces overall intake and improves digestion, helping you avoid the post-meal discomfort that can derail your evening. And especially if you spent all morning cooking, make sure you’re savouring what you created rather than rushing through it.
3 Ground your nervous system
End your day with progressive muscle relaxation combined with deep breathing. Starting at your feet and moving up through your body, cover each area: feet, lower legs, upper legs, hips and glutes, belly and low back, chest and upper back, hands, lower arms, upper arms, shoulders, neck, and face.
Systematically inhale as you tense each muscle group for five seconds, then exhale deeply to release.
The holidays can be demanding, but they don’t have to deplete you. By weaving small moments of breath, movement and awareness into your day, you’ll finish the holidays feeling lighter, more present and genuinely grateful not just for the meal, but for the support and resilience of your own body.
4 Check in with your body
Every time the kitchen timer goes off, use it as a reminder to scan your body for tension, imbalance and fatigue. Ding the casserole is done? Great, take care of the food and then notice how you’re feeling.
Are your shoulders creeping toward your ears? Your weight shifted into one hip? Your jaw clenched? Feet or lower back asking for a break?
Simply becoming aware of these sensations allows you to make small adjustments, whether that’s moving and stretching, shifting your weight, or taking a seat for a moment of deep breathing that can prevent minor discomfort from becoming major.
5 Hydrate strategically
Reach for a glass of water before that first cup of tea. Your body has been fasting all night, and starting with hydration helps you recover from overnight dehydration. Research shows that proper hydration supports cognitive function and energy levels and plays an essential role in digestion.
Continue sipping water as you go about your morning tasks, especially if you’re drinking coffee or tea in large quantities, which can be dehydrating.
If you plan on drinking alcohol later in the day, getting ahead on hydration early helps. Also try to drink a full glass of water for every cocktail or glass of wine you consume.