Hey there! ✌🏻
We’re in the thick of the holidays now. Everyone doing good? 🫣 Christmas has wrapped up, but the season itself is far from over. Family and friend gatherings continue, leftovers are still everywhere and routines are completely off. If we’re feeling more mentally tired than festive at this point…well that can be expected. 🙈
Research on holiday stress shows that while this season brings joy, it also brings elevated stress levels for most people. Financial decisions, family dynamics, social obligations, and disrupted routines all pile up at once. 📚 Our brains are trying to manage excitement and pressure simultaneously, and that takes a toll.
What is happening in the brain during the holiday season?
During the holidays, the brain relies heavily on a skill called cognitive shifting which is the ability to switch attention, adapt to changing situations, and manage multiple demands at once. One moment we’re hosting, the next we’re guests. One day we’re resting, the next we’re back in traffic, running errands, or navigating tricky social conversations. 🗣️
This kind of nonstop adjustment puts the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for planning, focus, memory, and emotional regulation—into overdrive. When it’s under sustained pressure, we may feel scattered, forgetful, emotionally thin, or unusually exhausted. It’s not that we’re doing something wrong. We’re simply asking our brains to do more than usual for an extended period.
Is holiday stress bad for the brain?
The good news is that holiday stress is typically acute, not chronic. That means it’s temporary and tied to immediate demands. Once the season eases, the brain has the ability to recover, if we make time for it. The days after Christmas are especially important because they offer breathing room before the New Year rush begins. 😮💨
How can we support our brain and body during the in-between days?
Small rituals go a long way. Calming scents and topical applications can help cue relaxation without requiring effort or discipline. 🪻Oleia Lavender Oil🪻 supports nervous system calm, especially at night when mental overdrive shows up as poor sleep. 💮Oleia Jasmine Oil💮 can help lift and support mood balance during the post-holiday dip. When the body feels heavy or unsettled after days of indulgence, 🌼Oleia Chamomile Oil🌼 can help soothe digestive discomfort and ease tension.
These in-between days are a reset. A pause for the mind to relax, the body to steady, and for us to choose what we’ll carry into the New Year. Rest now, then prepare—because before we know it, it’s here. 🌟
Show me your bottle and I’ll show you mine? ’Til next time! 💜
xo, L.
Reference:
https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/holiday-stress-brain