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Teas To Sip For Stress Relief Throughout The Holiday Season

Teas To Sip For Stress Relief Throughout The Holiday Season

13 min read OCT 27, 2025

Key Takeaways

As the calendar year comes to a close, families and businesses face a greater amount of stress, and this can wreak havoc on your health. Some herbal teas can help to mitigate the negative effects of stress, especially those containing chamomile, hibiscus, orange peel, rose hips, lavender, etc.

Stress affects all aspects of health, weakening your immune system, contributing to anxiety and depression, increasing your risk of disease, and more.

Chamomile tea may help to relieve stress and anxiety by promoting a sense of calm and aiding in healthy sleep.

Other herbal teas, including those with ingredients such as hibiscus, rose hips, lavender, etc. can regulate your mood, promote relaxation, and infuse calm moments into your day.
Sleep tea, or herbal teas containing sleep-promoting ingredients like GABA and lavender, are known to calm your brain and nervous system, allowing you to relax and reduce stress and anxiety.

Beginning in the autumn months and moving well into winter, we commonly refer to these seasons as “the most wonderful time of the year.”

And, while the festivities, cool temperatures, and cozy atmospheres are all indeed wonderful, I think I can speak for most everyone when I say it’s also the most stressful time of the year.

For individuals, families, and businesses alike, the last few months of the calendar year are marked with a serious uptick in stress.

Unfortunately, stress can have a seriously negative impact on your health - mentally, physically, emotionally, socially…ugh!

In fact, stress is one of the greatest reasons we also know this time of year as “sick season.”

Stress suppresses your immune system.
It contributes to the development of anxiety and depression.
Stress accelerates aging.
It increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Stress also disrupts sleep, which can contribute to a host of health problems, also in turn causing greater levels of stress.

Practically speaking, stress also plays a large role in many of our holiday mishaps and office blunders as our mood is greatly affected by stress.

Which begs the question - what are some ways we can find calm, comfort, and ease from these tensions and pressures which wreak havoc on our minds and bodies this time of year (and beyond)?

There are actually many answers to this question, but one practical and tasty way to reduce stress this time of year involves a chance to slow down, a warm mug in hand, and nourishment that aids your body amidst the hustle and bustle.

And no, we’re not referring to coffee.

Instead of brewing, today we’d like to take a closer look at how steeping can reduce stress.

That’s right, it’s teatime folks, and when it comes to stress relief, this cup can truly provide the calm many of us desperately seek throughout this season.

The Impact Of Stress On The Body

We likely don’t need to detail the signs of stress, especially throughout the holiday season, as most of us are all too familiar with these common symptoms:

Headaches
Sleep disturbances
Mood changes
Digestive distress
Anxiety
Racing thoughts
Increased sugar cravings
Brain fog
Frequent illnesses
Muscle pain/tension
Avoiding social situations

These symptoms and many more can be warning signs, or your body’s way of telling you “Hey, let’s slow down and find some calm amidst this season, okay?”

The thing is, so many of us like to simply “push through” this time of year, charging ahead without regard to how stress can affect our health in the long run.

And, I get it, there’s things to do, lots to accomplish, and little signs of reprieve within these months, but digging deeper isn’t always the answer, especially when it comes to stress.

Over time, stress can cause damage in many ways, including the following…

Illness and Disease - A Carnegie Mellon research team found “when under stress, cells of the immune system are unable to respond to hormonal control, and consequently, produce levels of inflammation that promote disease.”

Sleep - Stress overwhelms or overstimulates your nervous system, and this can lead to racing thoughts, restlessness, nighttime waking, difficulty falling asleep, and an overall inability to get quality, restful sleep.

Skin Health - Stress can contribute to eczema, rashes, acne, and breakouts, with chronic stress leading to habitual disturbances and sensitive skin.

Cravings and Weight Gain - Did you know that stress can trigger sugar cravings? These cravings can then contribute to weight gain and poor immune responses. This is due to how stress causes your body to produce more cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, which leads to weight gain around the midsection.

Headaches - The hormonal release caused by chronic stress can affect how your blood vessels dilate, increasing the risk of migraines, tension headaches, and more.

Digestive Distress/Gut Disturbances - Stress can cause bloating, gas, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, and food sensitivities due to its ability to alter digestion speed as well as the balance of bacteria in your gut. To add, imbalance in your gut can lead to whole body health repercussions such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, etc.

Cardiovascular Issues - Chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease as regular stress contributes to heart attacks, stroke, and blood clots.

Depression, Anxiety, & Mood - Stress makes us more irritable and anxious, something many of us can palpably feel. But this also contributes to an overall lower quality of life, including depression or depressive symptoms, even interfering with memory and the ability to carry out normal tasks.

So then, how can you reduce stress? How can you avoid these plaguing symptoms?

There are many practices you can incorporate into your daily routine to relieve stress, mitigating the above symptoms and helping your body deal with any tensions and burdens you may face.

You can reduce stress and improve relaxation by removing unnecessary stimuli. For instance, consider silencing notifications when needed. Take breaks from your devices, especially a few hours prior to bedtime. Also, resist the urge to multitask.
Though this time of year is typically marked by overindulgence (particularly pertaining to foods and sweets), be intentional about any treats, enjoying them in moderation, instead focusing on fueling your body with whole foods.
Deep or diaphragmatic breathing techniques can also aid your body in stressful seasons (in all seasons, really). Try breathing in deeply through your nose for 4 counts, here looking to see your belly rise (not your chest). Hold for 2-4 counts, release through your mouth for 4 counts. Then, repeat.
Physical activity, especially light movement like taking a 10-minute walk in nature, can essentially reset your body’s stress responses, making this an imperative part of stress relief.
Journaling is another activity that aids in stress relief as it provides an outlet for those things which are burdening you. Here, you’re essentially relieving your body from the task of carrying these stresses, putting them on paper instead of storing them within.

Then, another highly beneficial ‘method’ of stress relief, one which almost instantly infuses calm into your mind/body while providing stress fighting fuel, involves sipping…sipping herbal tea that is.

So, for the remainder of our time today, let’s explore the stress relieving benefits of herbal tea.

The Best Teas To Sip For Stress Relief

Broadly speaking, herbal teas help to effectively relieve stress due to the chemical compounds found in the plants commonly used to make them.

For instance, many herbal teas contain flavonoids and adaptogens which reduce stress hormones.

Some herbal teas even contain relaxing components such as GABA, which works by reducing nerve cell activity, thereby easing stress and anxiety.

Even the very act of slowly sipping a hot/warm cup of caffeine-free, herbal tea promotes relaxation and feelings of calm.

One study tested this premise, and here’s what they found - Compared with a placebo group, “six weeks of tea consumption lead to lower post-stress cortisol and greater subjective relaxation.”

Regarding heart health and longevity, another study found that “herbal tea consumption was associated with a lower risk of incident cardiovascular disease events, as well as reduced all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.”

The thing is, some herbal teas provide even greater benefits depending on what those teas are made of.

So, to examine this more closely, we’d like to dive into the ingredients in the herbal teas we offer here at Lifeboost, specifically looking at their benefits regarding stress.

Chamomile Tea

First up is our Golden Sand Serenity Tea. This tea is simple, made solely of organic pure Egyptian chamomile flowers.

As chamomile flowers contain flavonoids, this type of tea has been shown to reduce blood sugar in people with diabetes, relieve anxiety, reduce the painful symptoms of menstruation, support the immune system, and reduce long term inflammation as well as that which occurs during an infection.

Some studies even suggest that “chamomile extracts may target cancer cells or prevent those cells from developing in the first place.”

Regarding the calmness-promoting powers of chamomile:

Studies have shown chamomile to improve symptoms in people with generalized anxiety disorder.
Chamomile contains an antioxidant called apigenin which aids in feelings of drowsiness.
But, as the relaxing, or even sedating, properties of chamomile are considered more mild than pharmaceutical sleep aids, this type of herbal tea is also safe for daytime consumption.

In other words, the calming effects of chamomile shouldn’t cause daytime drowsiness, allowing you to achieve calm without crashing during working hours. *Though, most choose to enjoy this tea in the evening as part of a nighttime routine which aids in signaling to your brain that it’s time to rest.

“Chamomile has been shown to improve sleep quality, including helping you fall asleep faster and reducing nighttime awakenings.”

But, just as one healthy meal won’t support your body’s health and wellness longterm, one cup of chamomile also won’t put a stop to the effects of stress, holiday or otherwise.

This is why you commonly see exhortations to include something like herbal tea, or chamomile tea, as part of a healthy nighttime routine.

Sipping consistently, especially when you incorporate calm-promoting practices like avoiding devices, reading by candlelight or dimming the lights in the evening, practicing deep breathing techniques, and/or listening to calming music, can improve your sleep health, which is another defining factor in stress relief.

Herbal Tea

Don’t get us wrong, chamomile is definitely considered an herbal tea, but due to its unique benefits, we listed it separately.

Here, we’d like to detail another herbal tea we provide: our Crimson Hibiscus Infusion Tea.

Lifeboost Crimson Hibiscus Infusion Tea contains organic hibiscus, orange peel, rosehips, and rooibos.

Each of these carefully combined organic components are designed to support your body, especially as it pertains to relaxation and stress relief.

Organic Hibiscus - Aside from this flower’s powerful antioxidant properties which have proven beneficial in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, it is also known for its ability to significantly reduce blood pressure, something critical in lowering stress levels.

The flavonoids in hibiscus have been found to aid in mood regulation, and this component is also primarily responsible for the flower’s ability to reduce stress.

Organic Orange Peel - This ingredient, as you might have guessed, provides vitamin C, which not only lifts your mood but also regulates stress hormones!
Because of this, orange peel is commonly used in meditation practices as the calming aroma aids in clearing the mind.

Organic Rosehips - Another vitamin C source, rosehips aid in stress relief by regulating hormones (such as cortisol), reducing inflammation, and supporting healthy adrenal function.

Organic Rooibos - This herbal tea is loaded with benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which may improve the health of your heart, skin, bones, and gut.

But it also soothes your nervous system, promotes healthy sleep, and reduces stress hormone levels in the body.

We do have another tea with many of these same stress reducing ingredients - organic hibiscus, orange peel, and rosehips (It also contains organic rose petals, blackberry leaves, and apple pieces).

But, this tea (Lifeboost Champagne Bliss Tea) does contain organic white tea as well, so it may not be as suitable for a calming evening routine, especially in those individuals who are sensitive to caffeine.

However, I will say - personally I have found this tea to be a calming relaxation aid as I enjoy it midday.

The incredibly low caffeine content of white tea doesn’t ‘excite’ my nervous system, and instead (likely from the other prominent ingredients noted above), it serves as a soothing source, even a comforting calm, in the middle of my hectic routines.

Herbal Tea For Sleep

Lastly, I just wanted to provide a quick note about our Snoozy Snooze Tea.

This tea contains EzGABA, sweet orange powder, organic lavender flower, organic reishi mushroom, magnesium glycinate, MitoPrime (L-Ergothioneine), and honey essence.

With this powerhouse of calming, relaxation-promoting, and sleep-aiding ingredients, it’s not necessarily a tea we’d recommend consuming throughout the day while battling holiday stress or work burdens - but, as quality sleep is paramount when it comes to helping your body naturally handle stress, it’s certainly one that’s able to bring relief in this regard.

Sleep medicine specialist, Carmen Lombardo, states “a lack of sleep can cause the body to react as if it’s in distress.”

So essentially, whether it’s holiday time, you’re in an end-of-the-year work crunch, or just tackling everyday stresses, a lack of sleep can compound the affects you experience from these strains.

This is why incorporating a nighttime tea in stressful seasons of life, such as Snoozy Snooze - made with GABA, lavender, and other nervous system supporting ingredients - can provide another boost to defend your body against the effects of stress.

Oh…some of our customers have recommended trying this tea with honey, and the health benefits of this bee-made superfood alone cause us to chime in with a hearty, “yes, please!”

Each of these teas provide the perfect ingredients for stress relief, and when you incorporate them into your night or daytime stress-mitigating routines (other than Snoozy-Snooze, that one you can reserve for bedtime alone), they can:

help you relax
aid in achieving a sense of calm amidst the craziness of work, family, and other obligations
promote healthy sleep

FAQ

1- Who should avoid herbal teas?

Erring on the side of caution, it’s important to note that some herbs can affect hormones and medications. For this reason, most recommend avoiding these when pregnant or when taking prescription medicines.

Overall, the best course of action here, if you’re concerned about any interactions, is to consult your personal health care provider regarding any concerns you may have.

2- Does herbal tea contain caffeine?

Herbal teas do not contain caffeine, and for this reason, many choose this option for their evening (or pre-bedtime) cup.

Lifeboost Golden Sand Serenity, Crimson Hibiscus Infusion, and Snoozy Snooze tea are all herbal teas that do not contain caffeine.

Lifeboost Champagne Bliss tea, while primarily an herbal blend, does contain some white tea. While white tea contains significantly less caffeine than green or black teas, since there is still a small amount of caffeine, this option is best avoided before bed.

3- How should you store herbal teas?

Like most coffee and tea, herbal teas are best stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. This helps to preserve both freshness and flavor.

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Grata Medium Roast.

Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

Becky Livingston Vance Content writer

Becky is a mother, educator, and content writer for Lifeboost Coffee. She has had three years’ experience as a writer, and in that time she has enjoyed creatively composing articles and ebooks covering the topics of coffee, health and fitness, education, recipes, and relationships.

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