Hey friend,

Christmas and the holidays used to feel so magical to me—maybe it was because I was young, but I don't think that's it.

It feels like, on a collective level, the magic has faded.

At this point, it feels like the holidays have been hijacked by consumerism.

It's no longer about tradition, ritual, or enjoying time with loved ones—it's about buying and accumulating sh*t you don't need.

Beyond consumerism, the holiday season has turned into a scramble of obligations and societal pressures that many feel forced to participate in, even if they don't enjoy them, like:

• Going to events you don't want to go to
• Overspending (and the financial stress)
• Buying gifts for everyone (even people you barely know)
• Overbooking your schedule
• Navigating toxic family dynamics
• Overeating indulgent foods
• Drinking too much
• Suppressing emotions to maintain a "festive" vibe

What was once a rejuvenating, nourishing experience has now become a time of year that drains and depletes many...

Not what you want entering the new year—you want to feel recharged, hopeful, and determined to make this new year (and every year) your best yet!

Here are 8 ways to flip the script on the holidays, make them more enjoyable year after year, keep the magic alive, and feel replenished as you enter the new year:

Hack Holiday Stress: 8 Tips to Actually Enjoy the Holidays this Year

1) Dial in your nervous system regulation

You don’t experience the world as it is—you experience it through the lens of your nervous system.

When it’s dysregulated, stress tolerance plummets, triggering anxiety, emotional outbursts, reactivity, overwhelm, shutdown, and even dissociation.

Here are some ideas to regulate your nervous system over the holiday season (so you don't lose your sh*t on your Uncle Benny):

• Breathwork: Try box breathing (4-4-4-4) or longer exhalations to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
• Cold therapy: A quick cold shower or splash of cold water on your face can calm your stress response.
• Vagus nerve stimulation: Use tools like the Apollo Neuro or hum a favorite tune to boost relaxation.

2) Choose a nutrient-dense, low-inflammatory diet (with some indulgences)

Feeling pressured to indulge in rich, unhealthy dishes to “celebrate,” only to regret it when the holiday weight sticks around?

Start this year's new tradition: choose nutrient-dense, nourishing foods from day one. You don’t have to sacrifice flavor—high-quality ingredients can make healthy dishes just as delicious…

Holiday hack: If you want to indulge in some holiday treats, balance it out with intermittent fasting to offset those high-calorie moments!

3) Incorporate movement

Our ancestors didn’t have the luxury of endless, highly palatable foods during winter—they had to conserve energy to survive. That survival wiring still lives in us.

But today, with all that excess energy coming in and the stress of the holidays piling on, there’s only one solution: move your body!

4) Protect your mental bandwidth

I’ll admit it—I’m a people pleaser.

But stretching myself thin with obligations just to make others happy has left me frustrated and burned out… not exactly my idea of fun.

This is more of a reminder to myself than anything:

• Set boundaries: Politely decline events or obligations that feel overwhelming.
• Get better at saying "no".

5) Supplement for stress resilience

I’m all for nervous system regulation, self-care, and conserving mental bandwidth—but there are times when you want to do more without draining yourself or feeling like a little bitch.

Adaptogens are your new best friend.

My top picks—Eleuthero, Rhodiola, and Panax Ginseng—help build resilience, boost energy, and speed up recovery from all the holiday hustle.

6) Balance indulgence with mindfulness

When the holiday season and new year hits, it's easy to feel like a "girls gone wild" 20-something on spring break—just wanting to blow off some steam!

If you're going to drink, do it the right way with the least toxic booze:

• Vodka (best if it's made from potato, not grain)
• Gin
• Tequila

I don't drink anymore, but if I did, I'd use these supplements and strategies (shared in a previous newsletter) to reduce alcohol's toxicity and hack the hangover.

Plus, I recently discovered that eleuthero, the adaptogen I mentioned earlier, has been shown in a clinical trial to reduce hangover symptoms and combat alcohol-induced inflammation.​

Or if you are a little gassed from the booze, get all the buzz you need with these alcohol alternatives!

7) Embrace the spirit of gratitude

In the digital age where we fixate on what we lack, chase after more, and get exploited by massive corporations—especially during the holidays—embracing gratitude is essential for keeping your sanity!

• Gratitude journaling: Write down three things you’re grateful for every morning or evening.
• Give back: Acts of kindness can shift focus from stress to connection and fulfillment.

8) Consume less, experience more

After years of gifting things that just collect dust…

…and corporations blasting holiday ads in your face making you buy sh*t you don't need.

Enrich your life with experiences—time with loved ones or by yourself—celebrating the true gift of life.

Are you tired of the holidays feeling like a drain instead of a time to recharge and be present?

I certainly am.

I hope these steps help you ditch the holiday stress and truly embrace the magic of family, friends, and life!

See you next Saturday.

In the meantime, Happy Winter Solstice and have a Merry Christmas!

Onjae