The holiday season is a time for joy, family, and celebration, but let’s be honest — it’s also one of the most stressful times of the year. Between juggling family get-togethers, endless shopping lists, cooking for crowds, and the whirlwind of travel plans, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But here’s the good news: staying stress-free isn’t just a holiday wish. By keeping regular wellness practices, you can navigate the season with ease, calm, and a little extra holiday spirit. Ready to master the art of holiday chill? Here’s your ultimate checklist.

1. Schedule ‘You Time’ for Burnout Prevention

Staying on top of holiday chaos means taking control of your health and energy first. Burnout doesn’t wait, and it’s all too easy to fall into “go, go, go” mode. Scheduling regular wellness sessions ensures you’re refilling your tank and maintaining balance. Book a little “you time” each week, whether it’s a Wellevate Experience or a Recovery Session, to prevent stress from turning into full-on burnout.

Wellevate Tip: Make your sessions as non-negotiable as holiday dinners. Block them off on your calendar so that your wellness time becomes a consistent part of your schedule.

2. Reset Your Nervous System with Wellness Sessions

Our bodies often respond to holiday stress as they would any other form of overload. Think of a “nervous system reset” as pressing the restart button for your mind and body. The regular practice of self-care keeps you calm and focused, even during the holiday hustle. Treatments like cold plunge therapy stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping you stay cool under pressure and reset your stress levels quickly.

Wellevate Tip: Add a trip to the lounge to your weekly routine to recharge and recover. The cold plunge activates enhanced muscle recovery, sweating it out in the sauna improves circulation and pain relief, while red light therapy works wonders on reducing inflammation and fatigue.

3. Create Daily Habits for Health and Happiness

When everything gets busy, it’s easy to let healthy habits slip. But small daily habits, like stretching, hydrating, and moving your body, are the secret sauce to staying energized. By habit stacking (pairing wellness activities with daily routines) you can make self-care part of your everyday life without overthinking it.

Wellevate Tip: Try “stacking” your wellness habits. For example, start your day with a quick 5-minute stretch while you brew your coffee or book a Wellevate Experience after a workout to support recovery and keep energy levels high.

4. Use Movement as a Cheat Code to Holiday Health

Staying active is a cheat code to navigating holiday stress. When you’re moving your body, even with light activities like walking or stretching, you’re boosting your energy and improving your mood. If gym time seems impossible with your holiday schedule, cold plunge therapy and infrared sauna are options we offer that help with muscle recovery and promote circulation without requiring intense workouts.

Wellevate Tip: Schedule active sessions even during your busiest times. A Wellevate Experience during a busy work-week or to kick off your weekend will keep you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle your holiday to-do list.

5. Invest in Weekly Recovery to Keep Holiday Stress at Bay

Think of recovery sessions as a gift to yourself. Even one Wellevate Experience per week can promote circulation, reduce muscle soreness, and prevent the tension that often comes with holiday errands and travel. Regular recovery keeps your body in balance, acting as a reset for both physical and mental well-being.

Wellevate Tip: Plan at least one recovery session each week, and take advantage of our infrared sauna. The heat from the sauna helps relieve tight muscles and encourages lymphatic drainage, which both elevate your mood and help boost your immune system (no flu season for you!).

6. Take Control of Your Health with Discipline & Self-Care

A strong wellness routine is about more than just taking a break, it’s about building the grit to be able to tackle our goals and overcome any obstacles we might face. Wellness isn’t about reacting to stress after it builds up but working on managing it so you’re always a step ahead. Think of self-care as your personal toolkit. With discipline and healthy habits, you’re in control of your life despite the ups and downs of the holiday season.

Wellevate Tip: Plan your weekly wellness sessions in advance, treating each one like an appointment with yourself. Keeping a regular schedule gives you the ability to reap the benefits of the infrared sauna, cold plunges, or compression therapy bring both immediate relaxation and long-term health benefits, making them a cornerstone of your wellness journey. 

7. Give Yourself Permission to Rest and Recover

With so many holiday demands, it’s easy to feel guilty for taking time for yourself. But here’s a reminder: you need to take care of yourself so you can take care of others. A consistent wellness routine is the gift that keeps on giving, helping you feel grounded, focused, and capable, no matter what holiday demands come your way.

Wellevate Tip: Add contrast therapy sleeves to your sessions. These hot and cold treatments reduce pain, inflammation, and improve recovery. Remind yourself that taking care of your health makes you stronger, more resilient, and able to enjoy every bit of the season.

Prioritize Wellness for a Truly Joyful Season

This holiday season, make a promise to yourself to keep calm, carry on, and prioritize your wellness. A little planning, regular recovery, and time to yourself go a long way in making the season stress-free and enjoyable. By taking control of your daily routine, you’re setting yourself up for not only a great holiday but a strong start to the new year. So treat yourself to the gift of wellness, and enjoy a season full of peace, joy, and relaxation.