For the busy mom who wants joy + balance, not burnout or guilt.

Holiday Survival Guide: How to Stay Healthy, Happy, and Sane This Season

The holiday season is a magical time: twinkling lights, cozy mornings with cocoa, family traditions, and the warmth of home. But for many moms, it also comes with stress, overindulgence, disrupted routines, and that creeping worry- “Will I feel run down by January?” Let’s flip the script this year and create a season of connection, nourishment, and vitality. Below are the key strategies I share with my clients at the clinic, along with links for deeper reading.

1. Mind Your Body + Mind First

When the festive bombardment starts—sugary cookies, heavy meals, late nights—your body doesn’t know it’s “holiday mode.” It simply responds. According to the “Nice list” advice from The Wellness Way Clinics®, one bite of sugar can weaken the immune system and fuel flu season. The Wellness Way

So as a mom, you do yourself and your family a huge favor by choosing fuel over fluff.

• Keep hydration at the top of the list—sometimes thirst feels like hunger. The Wellness Way

• Prioritize sleep and movement—even a brisk 30-minute walk with the kids counts. The Wellness Way

• Don’t beat yourself up if you “slip.” One treat isn’t the end of your healthy habits. Let intention override guilt.

2. Build Immune Resilience for You and the Littles

As the season ramps up, so do gatherings, travel, and exposure to winter bugs. Knowing how your immune system works and how to support it is gold for a mom trying to keep the whole crew healthy. The Wellness Way+1

Important points:

• The immune system isn’t just “boosting.” It’s about responding appropriately and resting well afterwards. (Triggers = traumas, toxins, thoughts.) The Wellness Way

• For children: a fever often means the body is doing its job. Knowing how to support rather than panic is essential. The Wellness Way

• Focus on cleaning up the three Ts (traumas, toxins, thoughts). Less stress + better internal terrain = stronger immunity. The Wellness Way

Actionable for moms:

• Choose nourishing foods instead of sugar-loaded “holiday” treats.

• Encourage outdoor play—even if it’s brisk and cold, exposure to daylight helps.

• Be ready for the curveballs: pack immune-nourishing snack options, stay on track with sleep, keep handwashing and basic immune-hygiene top of mind.

3. Keep the Financial Stress in Check

You might think “health” means only physical health—but stress from overspending or financial worry hijacks hormones, digestion, and immune function too. The article on holiday financial wellness spells this out. The Wellness Way

Tips for mothers:

• Set a realistic holiday budget now—gifts, travel, meals, decorations. Include yourself. The Wellness Way

• Use cash or debit when possible to avoid the post-holiday debt hangover. The Wellness Way

• Reframe the gift giving: meaningful experiences, homemade treasures, family traditions instead of “more stuff”. The Wellness Way

• Remind yourself and others: you are not defined by your gift budget—you’re defined by presence and love.

When you ease the stress around money, your nervous system can relax. When it relaxes, your body (and your hormones) actually function better. Win-win.

4. Cookbook Ready: Healthy Holiday Recipe Round-Up

Let’s talk food you’ll love and feel good about. The recipe roundup from The Wellness Way offers a slew of allergy-friendly, health-forward holiday dishes your family and kitchen will love. The Wellness Way

Here are a few favorites to consider:

• Chai-Spiced Baked Donuts – festive, but without the refined sugar overload. The Wellness Way

• Butternut Squash Soup or Cauliflower “Mashed Faux ’Tatoes” – cozy comfort without heavy inflammation. The Wellness Way

• Gluten-free, dairy-free desserts like vegan pumpkin pie or pumpkin-oat cookies—so you can indulge intentionally. The Wellness Way

As a mom who’s also health-savvy:

• Make one or two “healthy classics” your go-to this year so you don’t feel like you’re giving up everything.

• Let kids help—make baking and prepping part of the memory-making.

• Pack left-overs: you’ll love having a nourishing standby when chaos hits.

5. Protect Your Routine (Because Mama Matters)

You may think you need to be “all in” for everyone else—festivities, kids, spouse, extended family—but your routine is your anchor. The “healthy holidays” article stresses sticking to your daily rhythm. The Wellness Way

Here’s what I tell my busy mom-clients:

• Schedule your workouts or movement (even if just a 20-minute circuit at home).

• Protect your sleep like it’s a non-negotiable meeting. Late nights absolutely happen, but aim for a baseline.

• Don’t let the schedule of the season squeeze out what keeps you thriving.

• Be kind to yourself: you don’t have to go from one event to the next at full speed. Downtime is part of health.

6. Give Yourself Grace + Permission

Finally, this season is about connection, memory-making, joy. Not perfection.

• It’s okay to indulge in the cookie or hot cocoa. But it’s better when you do it intentionally—not by default.

• It’s okay to say “no” to a party, or skip the cheesecake if you know it’ll set you back. Saying yes to your health is a gift too. The Wellness Way

• Your kids will remember you more than the snack table. A mom present, calm, connected is more valuable than a mom stressed, sugar-crashed, and run down.

.If you’d like a guided plan on how to show up for your health, body, and family this holiday, our team at the clinic is here to help. We can walk you through:

• Immune and hormone labs so you know your root terrain

• Holiday-friendly meal and snack planning for the whole family

• Stress-and-routine coaching so you’re not derailed by the season

You’ve built your practice, your business, your family—time to make this season yours.

⁠Schedule a consult or download our Holiday Survival Guide worksheet to get started.

Thank you for being part of our Wellness Way family. We are grateful for you and honored to support you on your wellness journey.

- Drs. Shane Huyser, Courtney Kloes and the Team at The Wellness Way Osseo