The holidays are certainly ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, but that is not always the case. Quite often, it is during the times of Christmas and New Year that people get stressed. The pressure of buying gifts, spending time with family and friends and enjoying every moment because it is also the end of the year, all these emotions can be overwhelming and can cause stress and anxiety. But that does not mean that you also have to let all the pressure and anxiety get the best of you. There are multiple physical activities and sports that you can engage yourself in to get rid of all the negativity. Some of these are:

• Yoga

Whenever the topics of exercise and stress relief are discussed, there is always mention of yoga. An exercise for both, your body and mind, yoga is known to boost your body’s natural way of responding to stress. The specific poses and postures of yoga, along with deep breathing, make you feel calm and help with clarity of your mind.

• Tai Chi

Just like yoga, Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice that involves physical movements and breathing. Tai Chi is known to help you strengthen your muscles, immunity and improve your body’s flexibility. When it comes to mental health, it helps in attaining mental peace and clarity. It is because of these reasons that Tai Chi is popular and known to be one of the most beneficial exercises for both, your mind and your body. 

• Dancing

No matter what part of the world you live in, when it comes to celebration dancing is always part of it. Dancing is also known to have plenty of health benefits for your body and mind. It helps in building your muscles, improving your mental health and strengthening your bones.

So what are you waiting for? Just play your favorite Christmas playlist, gather your loved ones around the fireplace and start dancing your stress away. 

• Archery

In case nobody told you, archery is a great sport to get rid of all the stress that is weighing you down. It helps with slow breathing and trains your mind to focus on one thing at time. This way at times when a lot is going on, like holidays, you are better able to prioritize your tasks and work on one thing at a time, thus reducing the stress caused by an overwhelming to-do list. 

• Step Outside

The simplest and the most effective way of all. Even if it is snowing outside or you are not an outdoor person, just put on your warmest clothes and step outside just for 15 minutes. Doing this will change your environment, you will breathe some fresh air and you will be taken away from the suffocating and congested environment of outside.