The holidays bring opportunities to connect with loved ones, enjoy favorite traditions and take a well-earned break from daily routines. They can also be a hectic season filled with travel, rich meals and added stress. To help patients stay well during this busy time, CU Medicine providers from a wide range of specialties are sharing simple, practical tips for navigating the season with health in mind.

From staying active during winter travel to supporting mental well-being, these insights are designed to help families enjoy the holidays while keeping their health on track. Whether you’re heading out of town, hosting at home or balancing a packed calendar, CU Medicine experts offer guidance to help you feel your best all season long.

Tips to Stay Healthy from CU Medicine Providers:

1. Reduce blood clot risks during travel

Anytime you are sitting for extended periods of time, including car rides or flights, there is an increased risk for blood clots. Pregnant persons have an additional increased risk for developing blood clots. This risk can be reduced by moving frequently and wearing graduated compression socks (up to the knee). If you do not have any contraindications, taking low dose aspirin can also help to decrease deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk. If you are already taking low dose aspirin in your pregnancy, there is no need to increase the dose further. – Anna Euser, MD, PhD with Maternal and Fetal Medicine

2. Set expectations to protect your mental health

The holiday season often comes with big expectations, like having a perfect time with family or friends and keeping up with traditions. Many of us fall into the “should” or “musts,” such as thinking everyone must have a wonderful time or that we should make Aunt Emma’s cranberry crumble. These pressures can create stress and affect our thoughts and feelings.

One way to ease that pressure is to ask yourself, when expectations or stress rise, “If my best friend or someone I love had this thought, what would I tell them?” Most of us would respond with kindness and care. Offering that same supportive advice to ourselves can help lower stress and reset expectations. – Alex John Reed, PsyD with Psychology

3. A simple trick to stay in the moment

Try a 3-2-1 practice when you feel stress in your body or mind: pause and describe 3 things you see around you, 2 things you hear and 1 thing you feel or sense (like warm sun, cool air). - Liz Chamberlain, PhD with Psychology

4. Take a moment for men’s health

Holiday stress can add up. protect your waistline, mental health, and even testosterone levels this holiday season by carving out time for: sleep, exercise, and a few quiet pauses amidst the busy festivities. – Jeff Morrison, MD with Urology

5. Take care on icy surfaces

Pregnancy, especially at the end, shifts your center of gravity making slips and falls more likely. If you have any falls where you land hard enough to bruise or hit your abdomen, please consider getting evaluated at the closest labor and delivery hospital unit. Anna Euser, MD, PhD with Maternal and Fetal Medicine

6. Filling your cup and plate

Healthy living starts at the dinner plate. Avoid the carb-heavy meals by filling your plate up with vegetables first, then add on your guilty pleasures as a side dish.

Also, because the holiday season tends to be stressful, give thanks during the holidays by reaching out to those who may be in more need. You are filling your cup as well as the cup of others. This both decreases cortisol and helps support a healthy immune system.  – Craig Wood, Physician Assistant with Family Medicine

Taking care of yourself during the holidays can help you feel more balanced, healthy and present with the people you love. If you need support with your wellness, CU Medicine offers primary and specialty care across the region. To schedule an appointment, visit our find a provider page or explore care on our specialties page.