Around the holidays, life gets hectic for just about everyone. Student, full-time employee, or even both, there’s no denying that everyone feels off-track and unorganized for the weeks leading up to the holidays.

Being a college student on a quarter system means that we get six weeks off from school. As great as it sounds, it almost feels like I have to squeeze everything I’ve been meaning to do in that time span, in right now.

Meeting with friends I haven’t seen since summer, picking up where I left off with relatives, babysitting part-time, and welcoming back my friends from studying abroad are just a few of the things I had to do.

Aside from socializing, I’m usually someone who takes working out and eating clean very seriously. I didn’t stay on track too much during this lengthy break, but rather than being upset about it, I used it to enjoy myself, friends, and family. Rather than depriving myself of scrumptious desserts, favorite restaurants, and bottomless brunches, I let myself indulge.

As someone who used to have anorexia, this was a major challenge for me. I never let myself go longer than three days without working out. This break, I conquered letting myself not go to the gym for a week due to being so busy.

Will I dare step on the scale? No. Why? Because the number doesn’t define me or the amount of fun I had during break. I still fit in all my clothes, I do feel a little physically slow, but that’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Here are a few tips I have for getting back on a normal routine after extended breaks:

1. Accept that you had fun. Don’t let the few pounds you gained or the extra few dollars you spent cause you to stress and worry. It’s the holidays, we’ve been celebrating from Thanksgiving up until New Years, it’s so easy to fall off track. There’s always tomorrow, and slowly introduce yourself to your old routine. I’ll admit, my first day back at the gym after a week of not working out and eating one too many Christmas cookies was a little rough.

2. Plan. Make plans to organize everything. Whether it’s just simple cleaning, laundry, or household shopping, make plans to organize everything you’ve been pushing to the side all break.

3. Get enough sleep. To be honest, my sleep schedule hasn’t been that great. With many weekends of going out and coming home late and then waking up early with errands to run, I’ve had a jagged sleep schedule. I would advise a week, or even a few days before going back to school or work that you fix your sleep schedule because that can be one of the harder things to fix.

Essential oils are something I’ve been passionate about for a couple of years. Each scent of essential oil could aid you in something different. For instance: alertness, relaxation, digestion, energy, cleaning, detox, memory, meditation, immunity, sinuses, hair, skin, nails, mood, and sleep.

Personally, I like to use lavender and CBD oil for relaxation for my anxiety. I feel as if they have helped me without having to turn to other forms of medication right away. Their earthy scent will put you at ease. I have a few friends who prefer peppermint around stressful times of the year such as finals.

They’re great to bring on-the-go and I’ve used them in stressful situations. For someone who has panic attacks, I could honestly say lavender and CBD have helped me a lot through my experiences.

Natural Healthy Concepts has an entire page on how essential oils could be used to your benefit. Even pets could have essential oils (there are specific ones for pets).

Plant Therapy has tons of essential oils for everyone, including kids! They even have a festive line of scents.

Their products are reasonably priced, which is always a plus because I’ve noticed some places charge nearly $20 for a small bottle.

Plant Therapy is a family-run business that was founded in 2011. They are USDA Certified Organic and their KidSafe line is great for children between ages two and 10.

Whether you like them or can’t stand them, there’s no denying that mushrooms are on the hierarchy of health foods. Personally, I’m a fan of them and can eat them cooked or raw. I’ve even seen mushroom based hot chocolate for health fanatics who want to incorporate them as much as they can. I haven’t tried that yet, but that’s beside the point.

Aside from mushrooms and mushroom based foods and beverages, Fungi Perfecti is a family-owned company based in Olympia, Washington. As I’ve stated before, I tend to trust family-owned companies because I know they strive for making their products the best they can be by paying close attention to the detail of their creation. Big-name brands might not always do that.

The company is Certified Organic by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The reason why this is significant is that any ordinary mushroom product could be unsafe. They absorb the air that they’re grown in and with the amount of air pollution we have these days, that’s not something that you’ll want in something you’re consuming. However, the antioxidants are too good to pass up, so don’t cross them off your list.

Fungi Perfecti makes capsules, extracts, chocolate bars, spray, and supplements. Their products provide support for the immune system, respiratory system, brain and nerve health, heart health, energy levels, and stress response.

These are top-notch pesticide-free products that you should definitely consider incorporating in your life. There’s no hesitation with these since they are grown in a clean environment. More information could be found on Natural Healthy Concepts.