Caring for Yourself Through the Holiday Period
- reproductiveacupun
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
As the festive season approaches, many of us find our schedules filling up with social events, rich meals, late nights, and end-of-year pressures. While this can be a joyful time, it can also leave your body and mind feeling stretched.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, this time of year can easily disrupt the balance of your Qi, Blood, and the harmony of key organ systems. Below are some gentle, practical strategies to help you stay grounded, nourished, and well throughout the silly season.
Nourish Your Spleen Qi - Digestion & Energy
The Spleen thrives on warmth, routine, and simplicity. The festive season often pulls us in the opposite direction, eating heavier foods, alcohol, grazing rather than structured meals, and disrupted routines.
Support your Spleen and digestion by:
Choosing warm, cooked foods when possible
Avoiding skipping meals to maintain stable energy and blood sugar
Keeping cold drinks and raw foods to a minimum
Balancing indulgent meals with lighter, nourishing foods
Including Spleen-supportive foods such as ginger, cinnamon, sweet potato, barley
Go for a gentle walk after a large meal
Support Smooth Liver Qi - Stress, Emotions & Hormones
The Liver ensures the smooth flow of Qi. It’s easily affected by stress, overindulgence, tension, and emotional overwhelm which is all common at this time of year.
Support your Liver by:
Incorporating gentle daily movement (walking, stretching, Pilates, yoga)
Staying hydrated with room-temperature water
Swapping alcohol for your favourite mocktail or non alcoholic alternatives e.g. soda with apple cider vinegar and slice of ginger
Choosing green, lightly cooked vegetables to support detoxification
Making space to express emotions instead of bottling them up
Calm and Anchor the Heart - Sleep & Anxiety
Busy schedules, late nights, overstimulation, and emotional load can disturb the Shen, the spirit housed in the Heart. This can show up as anxiety, restlessness, poor sleep, or feeling scattered.
Calm and protect your Shen by:
Keeping a consistent bedtime when possible
Reducing screens in the evening
Creating small nightly rituals such as gentle stretching, warm baths, or journalling
Choosing foods that nourish the Heart: berries, red dates, walnuts, lotus seeds
Taking regular quiet moments to reset between events
Replenish Kidney Energy - Your Energy Reserves, Vitality & Recovery
The end of the year is notoriously draining. The Kidneys store our deepest reserves, and lack of sleep or pushing too hard can deplete this precious energy.
Support your Kidneys by:
Prioritising earlier nights whenever you can
Listening to your body and putting in boundaries when you don't have the energy stores to do something
Using your holiday period as just that a holiday, even if tempting try not to overcommit
Allowing yourself genuine rest on quieter days
Balance Yin and Yang to Prevent Burnout
The silly season has strong Yang energy with being busy, social and outward-facing. To stay grounded use intentional Yin practices to maintain balance.
Create Yin by:
Saying no when you need to
Allowing slow mornings or quiet evenings
Sleep when it's dark outside and wake when it's light
Resting between events
Gentle Reminders for a Grounded Festive Season
Drink room temperature water between events to support hydration and digestion
After heavy meals take a slow walk
Be mindful of emotional triggers and plan supportive boundaries
Honour your need for rest
We’re Here to Support You
Acupuncture during the festive season can help regulate stress, calm the nervous system, support digestion, and maintain hormonal balance. If you feel like your body needs extra support during this busy period, we’re here for you.
(03) 9132 0287
@reproductive.acupuncture
Written by Meghan Smith
BHSc (TCM)
AHPRA and AACMA
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