How to Have a Healthier, Stress-Free Holiday: 26 Things Experts Do

(Tina Donvito/ USA Today) — For as much joy as the holidays bring, they are also a major source of stress. A 2023 survey by the American Psychological Association found nearly 9 in 10 (89%) people are stressed during the holiday season, whether about money, being apart from loved ones, pressure to make the season special or dealing with family conflict.

Plus, the majority of respondents in a December 2023 American Heart Association survey neglected their physical health at holiday time by not eating well (69%), not exercising regularly (64%) and not getting enough sleep (56%).

“The holidays can be a stressful experience on your body,” says Dr. Kristina Maselli, a neurologist at the Montefiore Sleep Wake Disorders Center in New York.

But you can take these expert-recommended steps to stay mentally – and physically – healthy during the holidays. (…)