This article is in partnership with Tattersall Functional Beverage
Let’s be real. The holidays are supposed to be merry and bright, but sometimes they feel more frantic and fried. Between the shopping, the hosting, the travel, and the sugar rushes and crashes, our stress hormones don’t always get the memo that this season is about joy.
Here’s how to actually unwind this year in body, mind, and spirit, so that you can show up as your calmest, most grounded self and actually enjoy the holiday season.
1. Keep Your Blood Sugar (and Mood) Merry and Bright
When we’re stressed, cortisol spikes and so do cravings for sugar and carbs. Keeping your meals balanced with protein, fiber, and healthy fats helps stabilize blood sugar and keeps those “holiday hanger” moments in check. Make starting your day with a protein-rich breakfast a non-negotiable. Hard-boiled eggs with sliced avocado or Greek yogurt with berries and hemp seeds are two go-to easy options. You’ll have more steady energy and patience for those long checkout lines and holiday traffic.
2. Move to Manage Stress (and Digest the Cookies)
You don’t need a 60-minute workout to get the mental health benefits of exercise. Even a brisk 10-minute walk after meals can help regulate blood sugar, improve digestion, and trigger endorphins that counter stress hormones. Think of movement as your emotional reset button not a punishment for indulging and you may be more motivated to get it in. This holiday season make an after lunch or dinner bundled up walk your movement and “me” time.
3. Reimagine “Happy Hour”
If you love the ritual of a cocktail but not the aftereffects, consider swapping your drink for a zero-proof option that still feels special. One favorite in our holiday rotation: Tattersall Functional Beverages—non-alcoholic, THC-infused drinks made with adaptogens and electrolytes to help you enjoy without the hangover. Their Uplift blend contains adaptogens like lion’s mane and rhodiola rosea to deliver the perfect state for lightening the mood and socializing. The flexible dosing and predictable effects make it the perfect low-calorie mocktail for a festive night out or a mindful moment after a long day of hosting or holiday chaos.
THC beverages are for adults 21+ and should be enjoyed responsibly — start low, sip slow, and savor the experience.
4. Protect Your Sleep Like It’s a Holiday Miracle
Sleep is a pillar of a nutritious life for very good reason. Sleep is when your body restores and repairs. There will likely be some later nights out during the holidays but on those nights at home you’ll want to focus hard on your sleep hygiene. Aim to keep a semi-consistent bedtime, limit alcohol (it disrupts REM sleep), and swap your scrolling habit for something that helps your nervous system downshift such as reading or journaling. A great swap for the glass of wine while wrapping gifts is Tattersall Functional Beverages Unwind—all the zen, minus all sleep disruptions. Also, you may want to consider a sleep supporting supplement such as magnesium glycinate.
5. Choose Rituals Over Routines
One of the reasons holidays feel magical as kids is because kids love rituals and traditions. As adults, we often lose that sense of intentional pause and fun. Try bringing it back in a healthy form: light candles with dinner each night, end the night with a cozy tea, or light a fire and make your holiday gift lists as a family. Small moments of mindfulness go a long way toward lowering stress.
6. Stay Connected — But Set Boundaries
Connection lowers stress hormones like cortisol and boosts oxytocin, the “feel-good” hormone. But don’t confuse connection with overcommitment. Choose quality time with the people who fill your cup and give yourself permission to say no when you need to protect your energy.
7. Unwind with Intention
Managing stress isn’t always about doing less during the holidays, it’s about doing what actually makes you feel good. Whether that’s a long walk, a good book, or a Tattersall Functional Beverage Unwind mocktail by the fire, make space for those moments that help you exhale. Because that’s where the real holiday magic happens, when you’re calm enough to feel it.
This holiday season, skip the pressure to make it “perfect.” Instead, make it peaceful. Balance your blood sugar, protect your sleep, move your body, and find little ways to unwind that feel good — body and soul.
You can go to Tattersall Functional Beverage and use the code KERI15 for a special offer. This offer is valid now through December 31, 2025. It can be used on all products except the $10 “Just Try It” box and cannot be combined with other promo codes or discounts.