How to beat holiday stress and anxiety in Hong Kong – from breathing exercises to relaxing spa treatments, 5 wellness experts share their tips to combat seasonal blues
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The Christmas and New Year holiday season is a taxing time for some people. This year, many will feel extra stressed, with the option to visit family abroad not viable, partly due to Hong Kong’s strict quarantine policy when returning.
To help, we reached out to five wellness experts to learn about key triggers, symptoms, and advice for alleviating stress. “We have already seen many clients who are seeking anxiety and stress support induced by travel restrictions and not knowing when they can see their families again. For some, this is hidden, or they are not fully aware of its existence during normal times, but the holiday season will often bring these issues to the surface,” explains Judy Xu, a holistic life and executive coach who is the owner and CEO of Balance Health Group, a holistic health clinic and wellness centre.
Highlighting both underlying societal pressure and the inability to travel as main triggers is Anastasia Williams, a wellness practitioner and teacher who merges yogic wisdom and practices with breath work, meditation, self healing and personal development.
“At this time of the year, there is a societal marker for it to be a celebration, marking the end of a year, moving into a new one, so it can reflect to us what we haven’t accomplished – and this has the potential to unravel various triggers,” she says.
“People who usually travel to see family are looking to replenish, nurture and strengthen the bonds and benefits of family connection. Plus, the holiday aspect to offset the year’s stresses, let alone the impact of the last two. When these needs are not met, it can lead to feelings of disappointment, loss, isolation, loneliness, stagnation and apathy,” Williams adds.
Extended time away from family is something that practising herbalist, healer, and Ayurvedic consultant Shoshana Weinberg can relate to personally.
People who usually travel to see family are looking to replenish, nurture and strengthen the bonds and benefits of family connection
“I haven’t seen my family for almost three years and that feels difficult for me,” she says. “It has opened up this new perspective that time is questionable because the relationship with my family is still so strong but that physical connection, that real deep heart connection, is missing. So I think during these holiday times with Covid-19 restrictions is when you remember more, and can really feel the burn.”