The holidays are on their way! It's a time of joy, fun, good food and laughter. Unfortunately for some, the holidays are also a time of stress. Between the activity of shopping and gift wrapping, the pressure of spending money and attending back-to-back parties, many people feel overwhelmed and unhappy at the approach of the holiday season. These tips will help you lessen your stress levels and make it easier to enjoy your holidays.

Exercise in the Sunlight

Exercise is a natural stress reliever, and sunlight is important for elevating moods and warding off depression. Unfortunately, winter is a time when temperatures are extra cold and the sun is out for limited amounts of time.

Set aside time at the peak of each day, when temperatures are at their highest and the sun (if it is out) is at its brightest. If exercising every day is too difficult, make arrangements to exercise every other day, or two or three times each week.

Stick to a Budget

Overspending makes the holidays more stressful. To cut back on your spending, make a budget that includes each person you plan to buy gifts for. Designate an amount of money for each recipient, and stick to that amount. Knowing that you won't be broke at the end of the gift-giving season will help you enjoy yourself more thoroughly.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Many adults need between 7.5 and 9 hours of sleep each night in order to function properly. If you're not getting enough sleep, your holidays may be less fun and more stressful as you deal with the effects of sleep deprivation. The symptoms of sleep deprivation include:

• Reduced memory function
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty making decisions
• Susceptibility to illness
• Moodiness
• Lethargy

To combat these problems and make the holidays easier, make sure you're getting enough sleep every night.

See a Chiropractor

With all that shopping and gift wrapping, your body may be in pain in a variety of ways during the holidays. This can impact your ability to do what needs to be done in order to prepare for the holidays, making the season far more stressful. See a chiropractor (at Ridge Chiropractic or another practice) to restore balance to your body, heal your injuries and alleviate pain. Your chiropractor will work to restore range of motion, allowing you to engage in the various physical activities required of you throughout the season. Since visits to the chiropractor often involve treatment from a massage therapist, seeing a chiropractor can be doubly relaxing.

Most of all, remember to take care of yourself and your needs. This will help you have a truly happy holiday.