If you’re not feeling particularly merry and bright this holiday season, you’re not alone. According to Medline Plus, about 3% of the general population experiences seasonal affective disorder, a.k.a. the holiday blues. With all of the commotion and emotions that the holidays bring, on top of it being 2020, it’s normal to feel a little stressed or anxious. However, it doesn’t have to be that way.
We’ve done the work for you and compiled a list of ways to fight off the stress and anxiety that the holidays bring so you can enjoy the greatest time of the year.
Float at A Place To Float
Float therapy is just what it sounds like — participants float around in a sensory deprivation pod that’s filled with roughly 850-1000 pounds of Epsom salt and water. The pod is heated to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and the salt keeps you afloat, so you don’t have to exert any extra energy. The pod is completely silent, giving the brain a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Each session lasts 60 minutes and can be used to combat chronic anxiety, heighten cognitive function, relieve pain, and even high-blood pressure. Some floaters even use it as a replacement for pain medication and physical therapy. And if you’re really feeling fearless, falling asleep in a float pod is completely safe, but we’ll let you be the judge of that.
Grab a boozy milkshake from Baby’s
Nothing says the holiday spirit quite like spirits. A unique place to grab a drink with friends is Baby’s in Indianapolis. It’s known for having some of the best boozy milkshakes in the city, with flavor choices including chocolate, strawberry, and one on a rotating basis — be sure to check their Instagram for that. Sometimes quality (socially-distanced) time with friends is just what the doctor ordered, or an alcoholic milkshake or two.
Center yourself at Flourish Yoga + Wellness
Yoga is notoriously known as being a practice that can help ease anxiety and stress, which is something we all could use a little extra of these days. Flourish Yoga + Wellness offers hot yoga, warm yoga, yin yoga, and prenatal yoga. To keep everyone safe, Flourish requires that all participants wear a mask during the duration of its classes. If you’re not feeling up for an in-person class, Flourish also offers virtual classes.
Treat yourself to some festive nails at NEAT Mobile Nail Salon
If you’re not familiar with NEAT Mobile Nail Salon, their manicures and pedicures are, well, neat. The salon is notoriously known for its creative, trendy and detail-oriented designs and patterns. They also offer traditional, solid color manicures if that’s the way you roll. The mobile nail salon serves Central Indiana and recommends checking their website for booking options. Treat yourself this holiday season, Mavens. You deserve it.
Tap into your artistic side and buy an adult coloring book
Chances are, no matter how old you get, the childish glee and relaxation of coloring in a new coloring book will never fade. You know, the new book smell and the insanely smooth and untouched pages. Lucky for you, Silver in the City has a wide selection of adult coloring books for you to choose from this upcoming gift-giving season — but be sure to grab one for yourself, too. We love the Boss Babes one if you’re having trouble choosing.
Get a massage at Indy Massage Company
Who among us isn’t carrying a serious amount of tension in our bodies right now? The therapists at Indy Massage Company are ready to (very safely) help you relieve some of the stress of 2020. And, hey, if you’re not feeling ready for something hands-on right now, maybe treat yourself to a gift certificate to use later. Even just knowing a massage is waiting for you in the future is going to feel nice.
Organize your life with a Live Inspired Planner
Live Inspired Planner was created by Hoosier Kennedy Harris to help customers keep their physical and mental health on track while managing their day-to-day schedules. Now, this isn’t just any planner. The Live Inspired Planner has superior interior pages that (most) pens don’t bleed through and has a simple, sleek, and trendy look. Kennedy was thoughtful in her design and saved blank pages to allow for random notes, doodles, drawings or whatever you find yourself putting on pen to paper. There’s just something about having an organized life that makes for a well-kept mind.
Take yourself on a date to Newfields Winterlights
Give yourself some love this holiday season and take yourself on a date to Newfields Winterlights! Operating by reservation only, Newfields is welcoming its guests and members back for its fourth holiday season and showcasing its 1.5 million lights. For guest’s safety, the entrance and exit will all flow one way in and one way out. Did we mention they’ll have hot cocoa and beer for purchase?
Download the ‘Exhale’ app
Exhale is a relatively new meditation app that was created by Indianapolis-based entrepreneur Katara McCarty in response to another publicly-catastrophic shooting of a Black man at the hands of police. Seeing the trauma of an already hurting community, McCarty launched the app in hopes of offering meditation, coaching talks, breath work, and daily affirmations for women of color. It’s available in the App Store and Google Play.
Indy Massage Company is an Indy Maven partner.
Samantha Kupiainen is a regular Indy Maven contributor.