How to Have a (Relatively) Stress-Free Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving. A time to be thankful, a time to be with family, a time for...STRESS!!

While the holidays are a wonderful time of year they can also be an incredibly stressful time. While we can’t tell you how to have a completely tranquil, hassle-free Thanksgiving (after all, we can't control Aunt Betty or Uncle Frank), we can give you some tips and ideas on how to have a relatively stress-free Thanksgiving by looking to what science has identified as our best bets for overall stress reduction.

For a (relatively) stress-free Thanksgiving be sure to...
 

Exercise

Yes, you have to exercise. We say this all the time, but it’s only because it’s true! Regular physical exercise is the key to maintaining your weight and relieving your stress. And before you get all stressed out at the notion of trying to squeeze in a workout in your already overburdened Thanksgiving schedule, don’t. There are tons of ways to sneak in exercise. You just have to be a little creative. You will appreciate the benefits of your workout even more when you are stressed. Plus, the after dinner walk may get you out of dish washing duty. 
 

Sleep

While it’s true that Thanksgiving is typically a very busy time, it’s also true that ensuring you get enough sleep is paramount to managing your stress. Think about how quickly you lose your patience or how easily you are annoyed when you are sleepy. Think about Thanksgiving and how many opportunities there are for you to lose your patience and/or be annoyed. Be sure to get your sleep. Not only will you help maintain family relations but you will also be helping your body metabolize all that food.

Laugh

Besides the fact that it’s fun, laughing has real, medicinal benefits, not the least of which is stress relief. Laughing makes you feel good and actually stimulates the intake of oxygen, which increases the amount of endorphins released by your brain. And all of that makes you feel good. So instead of getting annoyed or frustrated if your loud Uncle Jerry has taken over the dinner conversation again, just laugh. It’ll help you get through the dinner and as a nice added bonus, you’ll burn a few extra calories.

Be Thankful!

Whatever you have to be thankful for, embrace it. Perhaps it’s the fact that you’ve lost some weight. Or that you’re spending the holiday with loved ones. Or maybe you're thankful that Thanksgiving only comes once a year. Whatever it is that makes you grateful, appreciate it. Gratitude is one of the best stress relievers out there.


We here at Diet-to-Go are grateful to all of you! From all of us, to all of you, Happy Thanksgiving!

Surviving the Holidays

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