The Holiday Challenge
Holidays are meant for joy, connection, and celebration—but for those in recovery, they often bring stress, disrupted routines, and immune challenges. Dr. Karlfeldt emphasizes that stress doesn’t just affect mood—it affects the terrain, increasing inflammation, compromising immunity, and slowing the body’s natural healing processes.
Being mindful of how the holidays impact your body and mindset is essential to maintaining progress on your healing journey.
Understanding Stress on the Terrain
Stress triggers cortisol and other stress hormones, which:
- Increase inflammation
- Reduce immune function
- Impair digestion and nutrient absorption
- Disrupt sleep cycles
Even brief periods of chronic stress during the holidays can tip the terrain into imbalance, making supportive habits more important than ever.
Practical Strategies to Stay in Healing Mode
- Plan ahead: Prepare meals, snacks, and routines that support nutrition and energy.
- Prioritize rest: Maintain sleep routines even with a busy schedule.
- Mindful movement: Short walks, stretching, or gentle yoga keep circulation, lymph flow, and detox pathways active.
- Stress management rituals: Meditation, deep breathing, or journaling help reduce cortisol and support mental clarity.
- Set boundaries: Protect time for self-care, saying “no” to events or obligations that overwhelm.
- Hydration and moderation: Stay hydrated and enjoy holiday treats mindfully to avoid tipping the terrain toward inflammation.
Even small, consistent practices help maintain balance when life gets busy.
Takeaway Reflection:
Which holiday habits support your healing terrain, and which ones might disrupt it? How can you plan intentionally to stay in regenerative mode this season?
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