Page 42 - The Hunt - Winter 2024

Keep Calm and Carol On
Don’t let holiday stress steal your cheer—find your peace with these merry mindfulness tips and stress-melting strategies. BY MINDY TORAN AND MARIA SPANO
’Tis the season to be...stressed? If decking the halls has you
feeling more frazzled than
festive, you’re not alone. Between gift shopping, party planning,
and the endless swirl of to-dos, inner
peace can easily turn into a tangled string of twinkle lights. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, nearly nine in 10 Americans say they feel stressed or overwhelmed during the holidays. But don’t get your Santa hat in a bunch. Taking time for self-care—whether it’s sneaking off for some solitude, hitting the yoga
mat, booking a massage, or simply getting outside—can help you reclaim the joy of the season.
“If you’re feeling overwhelmed, all you need to do is find a quiet space for yourself and tune in to your breath,” says Alexandra Pettinaro, owner of Bath House in Greenville (thebathhousegreenville.com).
Her holistic healing studio incorporates sound bath meditations, yoga, facials, and energy work. “Mindfulness in general
can help you dial down holiday stress by promoting awareness, focusing on presence, and allowing you to savor moments rather than rushing through them,” she says.
You don’t need a formal meditation practice to focus on yourself and bring a sense of calmness and serenity into your environment. “Mindfulness is a practice, just like exercise or yoga,” says Pettinaro. “It gets easier the more often you do it. Once you get into a routine, you’ll find you’re better able to respond rather than react when unexpected issues arise, such as dealing with complicated family dynamics during the holidays.
Pettinaro also notes that being mindful can help you make more intentional choices about eating, spending, or making commitments during a chaotic time of year.
8 todaymedia.com I December 2024
Luckily, there are plenty of options for Delawareans to unplug and enjoy this special time of the year.
LIGHTEN UP
“Exposure to sunlight cues your brain
to produce serotonin, which is associated with positive effects on the mood,”
says Dr. Madhuri Sharma, founder and owner of Flow Integrative Medicine & Direct Primary Care in Wilmington.
Sharma suggests aiming for 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight each day, preferably
in the morning and without sunglasses
(to ensure light hits the retina). “[This increases] natural production of melatonin at night, which can help with an easier sleep onset,” she says. “Good quality sleep is so important to stress management, immunity, and energy.”
If rushing around is tying up your daylight hours, consider LED Red Light Therapy and book a 12-minute session at Houppette (houppette.com). “LED RLT stimulates the energy center of your cells to promote skin surface and muscular healing, encourage melatonin production for better sleep, and provide an energy boost,” says Lizzie Johnson, co-owner of the Greenville luxury boutique and spa.
KNEAD TO UNWIND
According to the American Massage Therapy Association, studies show that regular massage therapy can lower
heart rate and blood pressure. Even a 10- to 15-minute massage can reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone) significantly while simultaneously increasing levels of serotonin and dopamine—neurotransmitters that
help regulate mood. This combination of effects makes massage a powerful tool for managing and improving overall emotional well-being.
Take a break from gift-wrapping
and enlist in a trained pair of hands
to help untie some knots. Pamper yourself with a 60- or 90-minute deep tissue massage at the Spa at Montchanin Village in Wilmington (montchanin.com) or a Swedish relaxation massage at Barefoot on the Beach Spa &
Wellness Studio in Rehoboth Beach (barefootonthebeachspa.com).
Stacey Wetzstein, owner of Zen
Spa & Studio Z in West Fenwick (zenspafenwick.com), says spa treatments during the holiday season can offer numerous physical, mental, and emotional benefits, including stress
TRIOCEAN/STOCK.ADOBE.COM