According to Neuroscience expert, Dr. Patrick Porter, festive stress can affect your health more than you realize. Luckily, there are many things you can do to deactivate the body’s stress response.

Festive Stress Is Around The Corner.

The holidays are just around the corner! Soon, people around the globe will begin the dizzying array of seasonal demands like shopping for gifts, baking cookies, going to parties, cleaning, entertaining, and more. Although this season is meant to bring feelings of joy and cheer, it is, more often than not, a time of stress.

According to a 2006 survey from APA, 38% of people reported elevated levels of stress during the holidays. This number has increased dramatically over the past decade. A recent survey from Healthline said that 62% of people feel moderate to extreme stress. While the exact statistics vary from year to year, the conclusion is obvious: holiday anxiety is very real and it is an issue that many of us face. We have come to accept festive stress as part of the holiday season – much to the detriment of our wellness and our brain health.

According to Neuroscience expert, Dr. Patrick Porter, festive stress can affect your health more than you realize. Luckily, there are many things you can do to deactivate the body’s stress response.

“Stress changes the brain in many ways, from impairing short-term memory to increaseing the likelihood of mental health disturbances. It’s important that we learn to manage this stress, especially this time of year…”

..says Dr. Porter. After the holidays, people feel mentally, physically, and emotionally drained. And it’s totally understandable, this time of year has a lot of moving parts. The planning and preparation for social gatherings, gift-giving, and travel is a drain on mental energy. The physical demands of shopping, baking and decorating (not to mention excessive eating) impacts our bodies.

“Since we know this stress is coming, we can ready our brain for it. To do this we must shift our cognitive strategies to respond to the changes in our environment,” says Dr. Porter.

So how can we shift our cognitive strategies? According to Dr. Porter, simply being mindful of your emotions is the first step. Actively observing your own thoughts and feelings helps you better understand where the stress is coming from so you can manage it more effectively. Mindfulness activities like meditating and journaling can help. Making sleep a priority is also key. Our bodies and brains repair themselves during our sleep cycles. When the quality or quantity of our sleep is poor, we miss out on the restoration process. We are less focused, less resilient, and we have fewer internal resources for managing stress and anxiety.

Remember, a little mindfulness and self-care go a long way. The holidays are meant to be a joyful time but if you are stressed and miserable, no one wins. It’s vital to include yourself in the season of giving. Carving out time for self-care prevents burnout and makes for a happier healthier holiday.

“Stress changes the brain in many ways, from impairing short-term memory to increasing the likelihood of mental health disturbances. It’s important that we learn to manage this stress, especially this time of year.“

– Dr. Patrick Porter

In An Interview/Article, Dr. Porter Can Share:

• How to train your brain to tame festive stress
• 5 ways you can counteract stress and support your brain health this holiday season
• What festive stress does to your brain and your health
• How to biohack the brain for a happier healthier holiday

Dr. Porter is sharing tips and actionable advice people can use to tame festive stress, reduce anxiety, and improve mental and physical wellness this holiday season.