How Holiday Stress Impacts Your Body

And What You Can Do to Stay Balanced This Season

Willow Holistic Health – Aurora, Oregon

The holidays are often painted as a season of joy, connection, and celebration. But for many people, this time of year also brings a natural rise in stress. Packed schedules, extra responsibilities, changing weather, and the emotional weight of the season can all leave you feeling stretched thin.

At Willow Holistic Health, we see this every December. Clients walk through our doors with the same concerns: low energy, disrupted sleep, headaches, emotional fatigue, tension they can’t shake, and a general sense of being “run down.”

None of this means you’re doing something wrong. It means your body is asking for support.

In this blog, we’ll walk through how stress actually impacts your body, why it feels more intense during the holidays, and simple ways to stay grounded through winter.

Your Body on Stress: What’s Really Happening

Stress is more than a feeling. It’s a physiological chain reaction that affects nearly every system in the body.

Here’s what happens behind the scenes:

1. Your nervous system shifts into high alert

When stress rises, the sympathetic nervous system activates and releases adrenaline and cortisol from the adrenal glands. The hippocampus in the brain swells in response to cortisol to enable more effective response to stress. This “fight or flight” response increases heart rate, tightens muscles, changes breathing patterns, and heightens alertness.

Good for survival in the short-term. Bad for every system in the body if it becomes chronic or goes on too long.
Not great for your long-term wellness.

2. Your hormones get thrown out of rhythm

Cortisol, your primary stress hormone, rises naturally in small doses. But when it stays elevated — which is common in December — it can impact:

• immune strength and ability to fight infection

• digestion

• mood

• menstrual cycles

• energy stability

• quality of sleep

This is one of the biggest reasons people feel “wired and tired” during the holiday rush.

3. Your immune system weakens

High stress suppresses natural immune function.
That means the body becomes more vulnerable at the exact time when viruses are circulating heavily in the Willamette Valley.

If you’ve ever wondered why colds hang around longer in December, this is part of the reason.

4. Your gut and digestion slow down

Stress reduces digestive enzymes, tenses abdominal muscles, and changes how the gut moves. Combined with holiday foods, this can lead to:

• bloating

• irregular digestion

• cravings

• inflammation

• discomfort after meals

Your gut and your stress levels are more connected than most people realize.

5. Your hydration levels drop

Dehydration is incredibly common in winter. Indoor heat, reduced thirst cues, caffeine, and holiday drinks all take a toll. When you’re not hydrated, your body works harder than it should.

Why Stress Feels Stronger in December

There are a few reasons stress peaks during the holidays — and none of them are your fault.

Seasonal changes

Less sunlight means less Vitamin D and more fatigue.
Circadian rhythms shift.
Moods dip.
Bodies naturally slow down.

Busy schedules and emotional load

Holiday planning, travel, gatherings, expectations, and end-of-year responsibilities all contribute to elevated stress.

Immune load increases

With more social events and seasonal viruses, your immune system works overtime.

Disrupted routines

People change their eating habits, sleep patterns, and movement routines during the holidays, which compounds stress.

Your body notices every bit of it.

How to Support Your Body Through Holiday Stress

You don’t need a complete lifestyle overhaul. A few small, consistent choices can make a massive difference.

1. Slow, steady movement

Gentle walking, stretching, or breathwork helps release tension and support the nervous system.

2. Prioritize hydration

Even mild dehydration increases headaches, fatigue, and irritability. Small sips throughout the day go a long way, especially those with electrolytes

3. Support your nutrients

Winter and stress both deplete vitamins and minerals that help regulate mood, energy, and immunity. Focus on phytonutrients and colorful vegetables. 

4. Keep your sleep rhythm steady

Aim for consistent bed and wake times as much as possible. Avoid the screen for at least an hour before bed. Read a book, light a candle, listen to music, get sleep pods and listen to calming music as you fall asleep. 

5. Schedule pockets of rest

Even five minutes of intentional quiet lowers cortisol and grounds your body.

6. Try Herbs instead of alcohol

A dropperful or two of passion flower in some sparkling water with some mint and tart charry can make a relaxing and refreshing little mocktail. Try lemon balm and motherwort with some soda water and a few drops of lemon syrup. There are lots of great calming, nervine ‘drinks’ that can help your nervous system and be festive as well!

Where IV Therapy Can Help

During the busy holiday season, many people need support that works quickly and replenishes what’s been depleted.

IV therapy can help by:

• supporting hydration and strengthening immune function
  
  

• replenishing vitamins and minerals used during periods of stress
  
  

• helping to feed the mitochondria and give the cells they need to function optimally
  
  

• offering immune support during cold and flu season
  
  

Because IV therapy bypasses digestion, the body absorbs nutrients immediately, a helpful option when stress has already taken a toll. It’s not a cure or a replacement for healthy habits, but it is a simple, effective way to help your system feel more supported during a demanding month.

A Gentle Reminder

If your body feels stretched thin right now, you’re not alone. Stress is a normal response to a demanding season — not a personal failing.

You deserve to feel supported, grounded, and cared for.

If you’d like to learn which IV therapy blend may help you feel more balanced this winter, our team at Willow Holistic Health is here to help.