Bright, Balanced & Well: Your Holiday Health Guide

Your Guide to Holiday Wellness

Explore expert insights and tips to help you care for yourself this holiday season.

Staying Healthy This Season Starts Here

At Brown University Health, we’re committed to keeping our community safe, healthy, and supported throughout the season. Whether you’re looking for ways to prevent illness or need care when you’re not feeling your best, we’re here to help you navigate every step.

From simple tips—like handwashing, staying up to date on vaccinations, and knowing when to rest—to guidance on nutrition, hydration, and protecting those at higher risk, our goal is to keep you and your loved ones well.

If you do need care, you have options. Our primary care practices and urgent care locations offer convenient access to the right level of support. And if symptoms become more serious, our emergency care teams are ready 24/7.

Explore the resources below to stay informed, take preventive steps, and know where to turn when you need medical care this season.

Tips for Preventing Cold and Flu

How to Tell If It's a Cold, Flu, COVID-19, or Allergies

The common cold can make you feel miserable, but are you sure it’s just a cold? The many similar symptoms associated with colds, flu, COVID-19, and allergies can be confusing. It is important to understand how these differ so you can best treat your illness and know when it is time to seek medical attention.

Tips for Healthy Holiday Gatherings

We asked Michael Koster, MD, division director of pediatric infectious diseases at Hasbro Children’s, and Leonard A. Mermel, DO, medical director of the Brown University Health department of epidemiology and infection control, for some advice on how you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe during the holiday season.

Expect the Unexpected: Lesser known ways you could contract or spread the flu

Flu season is back again. While you probably already know that getting your flu vaccination is your best defense against the illness, it is not always a guarantee. Public spaces and inadvertent physical contact with others can spread the flu in no time. Check out a few unsuspected ways you can contract or spread the flu.

Simple Strategies to Manage Holiday Stress

The holiday season can be a time for celebration and connection, but for some, it can usher in a new wave of stressors. For many people, this time of year features an increase in financial insecurity, challenging family dynamics, loneliness or grief, time constraints, and changes in routine. While these challenges may feel insurmountable, there are some tips and tools that can help alleviate some of the holiday stress.

Need extra support this holiday season? Our virtual partial programs provide flexible, expert mental health care—right from home.

Keep Yourself Healthy This Season

Find an Urgent Care Center Near You

Sickness can happen, even during the holidays. Be prepared for the unexpected moments and find a Brown University Health Urgent Care near you.

(Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas)

Urgent Care vs. Emergency Department? Where to Go

When it comes to urgent matters, they rarely happen at convenient times. When you sprain an ankle or your child has an earache, you want medical care fast. Learn when to go to an urgent care center and when the emergency room is the better choice.

Tips for Navigating Social Gatherings

Emotional Eating and How To Avoid It During the Holidays

Food is often featured in celebrations and family or religious traditions. But for some, food may be used to cope with emotions, serve as a distraction from stressful situations, or used as a way to fight boredom. Here are some tips for avoiding emotional eating during the holidays.

Sober Curious and the Benefits of Taking a Break from Alcohol

Drinking alcohol in any amounts can negatively impact your health. Yet there's a strong social aspect to drinking that's hard to ignore. However, new research studies, along with a rise in "sober curious" influencers on social media, indicate that more and more people are considering the benefits of abstaining altogether, or more mindfully engaging in alcohol culture. Learn more about the sober curious movement and the benefits of taking a break from alcohol.

Managing Social Gatherings on a Healthy Weight Journey

Social gatherings, such as holiday parties, can feel overwhelming when you are on a healthy weight journey. These situations often center around food and drinks, and it is easy to feel pressured to partake. Managing social situations while on a healthy weight journey does not have to feel this way. Here are some tips to managing social gatherings while working toward your healthy weight goals.