Plain and simple, the holidays can get exhausting! While they are such a happy time of year, you may find yourself spending way too much money on gifts, saying yes to every party you’re invited to, and eating and drinking at multiple happy hours a week. It gets exhausting and can definitely throw you off any health regimen you had going. People often talk about letting themselves go from November through December, and then getting back into the swing of things come the new year. While it can feel good to let loose sometimes, we can also go overboard! It’s best to try and stay balanced throughout the holiday season so that you still feel great physically and mentally.
Four tips on making mindful decisions to keep your energy levels up during the holidays
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Movement
With the holidays come all of the holiday events that end up taking over your calendar. You’re out late having fun multiple times a week and the next thing you know it’s been two weeks since you exercised in any way. Make yourself a priority here! If you feel yourself going into a downward spiral, it’s going to seep into other aspects of your life. Get up a little earlier even just to walk 30 minutes on the treadmill or outside (depending on where you live). Don’t let your body get sluggish — moving your body multiple times a week is a great way to stay in shape and maintain your good energy!
Hydration
As mentioned earlier, the holiday season brings a lot of events and late nights out. When you’re consuming a few cocktails at night, and then multiple cups of coffee during the day to stay awake at work, it’s extremely important to drink water! The extra cups of coffee during the day are only going to get you so far until you hit the ultimate energy crash. Hydration has a major effect on energy levels and overall brain function, so drink up!
Nutritious Foods
Make sure you’re filling your body with all the nutrients it needs. As soon as the holidays hit, there always seems to be cookies in the office, cocktails served everywhere and delicious food options in front of your face. While we should all be treating ourselves in some way, make sure you’re still fueling up with nutritious, full meals instead of snacking all day long. Fill yourself with a variety of fruits, vegetables, protein foods, whole grains and healthy fats to help keep your energy levels up during this busy season!
Sleep
Most people take sleep for granted, but this is a huge factor into how you feel and the level at which your body is functioning. The holidays are an extremely busy time and that can definitely take a toll on you. Lack of sleep can result in feeling lethargic, slow and grumpy. If you feel yourself starting to feel run down, make sure to hop in bed earlier than usual to get some extra rest!
