If you or your child seem to be getting sick again after the holidays, please know this first:
Nothing is “wrong” with your body.
The weeks surrounding the holidays are full of joy, but they’re also full of late nights, sugar, travel, schedule changes, emotional highs and lows, and less rest than usual. For both adults and kids, that combination can gently overload the systems that keep us well.
At Real Health Chiropractic Clinic, we see this every year. January and February often bring lingering colds, recurring congestion, fatigue, or the feeling that your body just hasn’t bounced back yet. This isn’t a failure of the immune system; it’s often a sign that the body is asking for a little extra support and care.
The Immune System Isn’t Separate From the Rest of the Body
One of the most comforting things to understand is that your immune system doesn’t work alone. It’s guided by the nervous system, which helps coordinate healing, rest, digestion, sleep, and immune responses.
“When we help the nervous system settle, the whole body gets a clearer signal to rest, repair, and recover,” says Dr ShaRhae Matousek, Eden Prairie chiropractor.
When life becomes busy, even in good ways, the nervous system can stay in a more alert, protective mode. When that happens, the body naturally shifts its energy away from repair and toward survival. This is true for grown-ups juggling responsibilities and for children whose routines suddenly change.
So when sickness lingers, it’s often the body saying:
“I need help slowing down so I can heal.”
Gentle Ways to Help the Body Recover, for All Ages
Healing doesn’t require drastic changes or perfection. Small, supportive steps can help the body feel safe enough to return to balance.
1. Support the Nervous System First
This is where true healing begins.
Gentle chiropractic care helps reduce stress on the nervous system so the body can better regulate immune function, sleep, digestion, and emotional resilience. When the nervous system feels supported, the immune system doesn’t have to work as hard; it becomes more efficient and calm.
This is especially important for children, whose nervous systems are still developing and are deeply affected by routine changes, stress, and overstimulation, and pediatric chiropractic care can help support them through
2. Rest Is Medicine (for Kids and Adults)
Sleep is when the body does most of its healing. During deep rest, immune cells repair, inflammation decreases, and energy stores are restored.
Helpful reminders:
- Aim for consistent bedtimes whenever possible
- Create calming bedtime routines
- Allow extra rest during recovery without guilt
For children, this might mean earlier bedtimes or quiet afternoons. For adults, it might mean saying no more often or allowing the body to rest without feeling behind.
3. Gentle Movement Helps the Body Clean House
Movement doesn’t have to be intense to be effective. Walking, playing outside, stretching, or gentle exercise helps the lymphatic system, a key part of immune health, do its job.
Think of movement as a way to help the body circulate healing, not burn energy. This applies just as much to kids playing as it does to adults moving intentionally.
4. Nourish Instead of Restrict
After the holidays, the goal isn’t punishment or strict rules; it’s nourishment.
Sugar and processed foods can temporarily stress immune function, especially when combined with poor sleep. Refocusing on whole, nourishing foods helps the body rebuild gently, and nutrition counseling can offer simple guidance to make that shift feel doable.
Helpful choices include:
- Warm, comforting meals
- Plenty of hydration
- Fruits, vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats
- Foods that support gut health, where much of the immune system lives
Perfection isn’t required. Consistency and kindness go a long way.
Simple Nutrients That Can Offer Extra Support
When the foundation is in place, gentle supplements can support recovery:
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Probiotics
Omega-3s
Zinc
These aren’t quick fixes; they’re tools that support the body as it heals naturally.
Healing Takes Time, and That’s Okay
Immune resilience is built slowly. It’s normal for the body to need weeks or even months to fully recover after a demanding season. This is true for children, adults, and families as a whole.
At Real Health Chiropractic Clinic, our goal isn’t to “boost” the immune system aggressively—it’s to support the body so it can do what it already knows how to do.
If you or your child feel stuck in a cycle of illness, fatigue, or slow recovery, it may be time to look deeper, not with urgency or fear, but with curiosity and care.
Your body isn’t broken. It’s asking to be supported.