How to Enjoy a Relaxed Christmas: Tips to Manage Stress

When we think of Christmas, most of us imagine peace, lights on the tree, the scent of cookies, and time with family. However, reality often looks very different: on Christmas Eve we usually arrive feeling tired and more in need of rest than relaxed holidays.

That proverbial calm doesn’t come by itself. If you want to have more energy at Christmas and improve the atmosphere at home, it’s worth slowing down a bit already in December. Small daily rituals that only take a few minutes can make a big difference.

Half an Hour Without Screens in the Evening: The Foundation for Better Sleep

December is not a typical month. You get up in the dark, come home from work in the dark, and on top of that there are year‑end tasks, last‑minute gifts, cleaning, and cooking. It’s no wonder that sleep suffers.

Maybe you have trouble falling asleep, or you’re awake from four o’clock in the morning — with a head full of to‑dos. And if in those moments you grab your phone, unfortunately that doesn’t help much.

In the evening — or whenever you lie awake at night — it’s important for the brain to wind down. Screens, however, keep it in alert mode. So try on a few evenings each week to:

• put your phone away half an hour before going to bed and instead pick up a book,
• dim the lights,
• enjoy a shower or a warm cup of tea,
• give your bedroom a good airing before sleeping.

If falling asleep has been difficult for you for a long time, SleepMedicus may help — a combination of 10 herbs, L‑tryptophan, and magnesium, which plays an important role in melatonin production. It’s not a “strong sleeping pill,” but a gentle support for more calm in the evening.

Give Yourself a Break During the Day

December is a strain on the nervous system, and even small problems can seem bigger than they really are. A short break in everyday life can sometimes do more than a long meditation session around Christmas.

Helpful things include:

• a short stretching session,
• a few conscious deep breaths,
• deliberately pausing your work “sprint” for 5 minutes.

If possible, go outside for at least a moment. Just 30 minutes of daylight increase your serotonin levels (the “feel‑good hormone”), even when it’s cloudy.

Because stress increases the body’s magnesium usage, it makes sense to supplement magnesium in winter. Try our Ultimate Magnesium Complex, which offers two variants: daytime capsules for concentration and focus, as well as evening capsules to support relaxation.

 

A Short Massage After a Long Day: Relief for Body and Mind

The stress of the whole day often shows up in the body — back, knees, or tense shoulders signaling discomfort. Five minutes of massage in the evening can bring surprisingly large relief.

You can use Horse Balm (Pferdesalbe) — warming or cooling, depending on what feels best for you. In addition to physical relief, this moment also offers a small pause in mindfulness that many people lack before falling asleep.

Resolutions You Can Actually Keep

After Christmas, the body often switches into “slow mode.” A dramatic detox is not necessary — it’s enough to step back into a healthier rhythm gradually. That way you avoid feeling like you want to sleep all day, and at the same time your weight can slowly settle back to normal.

But don’t rush into it. Many people decide to start running, to exercise regularly, or to go on a diet. When it’s a completely new habit, it takes time before it finds its place in everyday life. So start slowly: instead of going for a run, try a longer brisk walk first, and instead of a strict diet, focus on more conscious, balanced snacks.

And how about not waiting until February to take a break from alcohol — but keeping January alcohol‑free? Your liver will thank you. If you want to support it gently as well, DetoxMedicus with milk thistle can be helpful — a natural way to help the body regenerate after a period of abundance.

Relaxed Christmas Depends Above All on How You Feel

And when you sit at the table rested, truly present, and in good spirits, that might be the most beautiful gift you can give yourself and your family.