November is upon us, which means we’re just a few weeks away from the holiday whirlwind between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. There are gifts to buy, cards to write, decorations to hang, meals to plan, meals to make, trips to take and people to see. While the holidays connect us with family and friends, the time between putting the turkey in the oven and waking up in the new year can also feel like a marathon-long sprint.

Even the good stuff can be overwhelming, so we’re here with a few tips to beat the holiday stress while prioritizing your wellness: 

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FEELINGS: Whether you’re anxious about your list of to-dos or sad because someone close to you won’t be around this holiday season, realize that it’s normal to feel those things and express them. 

PLAN AHEAD: Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, connecting with friends and other activities. Make lists that can help prevent last-minute trips to the store, but don’t forget to give yourself some grace if your plans have to change. 

SAY NO: Saying yes when you rather say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed, so don’t be afraid to do it. Friends, family and colleagues will understand if you don’t have the bandwidth to take on another project or activity this time of year. 

BUT SAY YES TO TIME FOR YOURSELF: Whether you’re shopping for them or planning a feast with them, the holiday season often involves a lot of other people, so some “you time” can be essential to reset and recharge. Say yes to a solo adventure or a fun outing with friends to break up the hustle and bustle of holiday planning. 

MOVE WITH US: Build in time for mindful movement during an otherwise hectic time. If you can’t make the trip to Healthworks between holiday errands, we’ll come to you with HWX Digital Studio. We offer livestream and on-demand virtual workouts and classes from your favorite Healthworks instructors, plus Les Mills master instructors from around the world. New videos are dropping weekly to keep you motivated and energized. 

LET US MAKE THE PLAN: You’re already making a lot of them, so let us take the workout planning off your hands. Connect with one of our personal trainers, sign up for a teamTRAINING session or find out more about Remote Training if you’re on the go. 

REST + RECOVER: Take a moment to slow down and breathe with guidance from our HWX Yoga instructors or book a session with one of our massage therapists. You can also stop by any time to unwind in our steam room or sauna or release tension with our new Theragun services. Whether they come after a workout or completing holiday errands, rest and recovery improve performance, mobility, stress and sleep. 

IMPERFECT IS PERFECT: Our last piece of advice: acknowledge that things may not go exactly as planned. It’s easy to set the bar really high during holiday planning, which can lead to disappointment if the celebrations don’t go off without a hitch. If that happens, remember what really counts. Oh, and your Healthworks community will be here whenever you need to sweat and laugh out any frustrations!