The holidays can be many wonderful things. They can remind us of what’s important, reignite friendships/relationships, encourage us to give back, fill us with yummy treats, and give us a chance to tell people how we feel about them.

Still, even with all these great pieces, the holidays can also be super stressful. You may be travelling to multiple locations, trying to get the kids the it (and of course sold out) toy of the season, praying you don’t catch the flu that everyone in the office seems to have, and perhaps even playing the buffer in some of the more volatile relationships around you.

Between all these things it can sometimes be a little bit hard to carve out some time for yourself! Throw your period into the mix, and what’s a Diva to do?! Well, maybe some of these 10 tips can help.

1. Sleep

It sounds so simple, right? So why do we have such a hard time carving out enough sleep on the holidays? 

Between holiday parties and late nights of shopping, wrapping and decorating, it can be hard to get your eight hours. While this tip may sound like something easier said than done, if you can put that effort into tucking yourself in at a decent time, you will find the holidays and your period much easier to deal with.

2. Focus On the Positives and Laugh Off the Little Things

The holidays can be stressful, but maybe some of those stresses can be laughed off and let go? Remember those picture-perfect holiday photos that are displayed on every single social channel? Each of these was probably proceeded and followed by complete and utter chaos.

So try and focus on those positive parts of the holidays and laugh off the little stressful things the holidays can bring. This may be a challenge especially if you find yourself a bit snippy over the holidays or over your period, but trust us, it will lead to happier holiday memories for you and your loved ones.

3. Limit or Avoid Alcohol

So school is still out on the debate of whether or not little to moderate alcohol intake has any specific effects on your period or vice versa. However, period or not, anything over moderate alcohol intake when faced with sometimes stressful family or social situations, just doesn’t seem like the best idea.

Also, remember alcohol is a depressant! If you are emotional due to stress or due to your period, alcohol will likely heighten these feelings rather than remove them.

4. Indulge but Don’t Cave Into Cravings

The holidays can have a lot of yummy treats easily accessible and when you are on your period sometimes every cell in your body seems to be asking for sugar. It’s ok to indulge in a few of these cravings, but remember to not go overboard! Junky and sugary foods actually tend to make us feel a little worse when it comes to our period symptoms. So, approach this with balance!

If your achy uterus is demanding a gingerbread cookie, have one but maybe stop at just the one and try not to growl at you family as soon as they reach for the others.

5. Take a Holiday Walk

Need to cool down from the heat of all the ovens working overtime to bring you a holiday feast, or to step away from the heat of Cousin Janet and Uncle Bill talking politics?  

Taking a holiday walk is not only great for the soul, it is wicked helpful for your cramps! Grab your favorite relative and take a stroll to enjoy the holiday decorations or even to marvel at how your town has turned into a holiday ghost land while everyone is inside celebrating. Some fresh air can ease your mood and even take away some of the stress induced holiday headache and the exercise will help ease your period cramps.

6. Enjoy Hot Chocolate

It’s the drinkable equivalent of a warm hug and absolutely nothing beats a steaming mug of hot chocolate during the winter holidays! This perfect comfort drink not only warms the cockles of your stressed-out holiday heart but can even help with some of your period symptoms!

For some great hot chocolate recipes with period relief in mind, check out our hot chocolate blog.

7. Eat Your Veggies

The holidays can be full of rich and delicious foods, but sometimes these don’t line up with the kind of foods to support a menstruating body.

Though we aren’t saying to completely avoid the creamy mashed potatoes or the little bit of deeply fried goodness, make sure you are reaching for some of the safer (yet just as yummy options).

Leafy greens are great for your period, so push past the candied yams and grab some spinach or kale. The iron in these vegetables will help you be your holiday best while on your period. Veggies like broccoli also have a high fiber content and can actually help with bloating!

8. Take a Hot Bath

Taking a hot bath may not be realistic during this time of the year, but boy if you can make it work, it is the absolute best. Otherwise, try and remember to pack a hot water bottle on your holiday travels. This portable little bit of period relief can really take the edge off your period blahs during the holidays.

9. Complain Exchange!

Sometimes the holidays and your period just make you want to vent! This is totally understandable.

Talk to a close friend or relative before the holidays and become each other’s venting outlets. Seriously, a complaint exchange can help you get things out instead of bottling them up and then you can let things go, giving you a better holiday and period experience.

10. The DivaCup

This one should be obvious! Can you imagine navigating the holidays anyway else? Who has room to pack disposables when you are carrying all those presents? Plus traveling on the holidays is gruelling whether it is by plane, train or automobile, at least with the DivaCup you can worry about reaching your destination and not your period.