Holiday celebrations run the risk of turning sour when your body can’t keep up with all the fun. Here’s a few simple actions you can take to keep everything running smooth as can be amidst the season of indulgence.

1. Have a water-only policy for at least two hours before bedtime.

Sleeping gives your body a chance to recover and restore. If it’s still too busy digesting yesterday, then tomorrow will be off to a noticeably slow start. Try it out: if you know that 10pm is when you’ll get to sleep, then stand strong and close the kitchen no later than 8pm. The results take effect immediately!

Pro tip: 10pm-2am are “golden hours” for sleep. We know this is a big ask for the holidays, but if you can tuck yourself in in time to enjoy that phase of the night, you’re going to wake up extremely well-rested and set everything else on a positive course!

2. Binged? Have a 24-hour reset before the next one

Of course, eliminating overindulgence is the optimal path, but hey, we’re all human and most of us have not yet evolved beyond the urge to incessantly consume calories. So what to do when you stuffed yourself silly and are seemingly at the point of no return? Remember that not all is lost! Rather than giving up all hope and sliding into the next event with a “I’ll start my diet in January” attitude, give yourself a 24-hour reset. During that time you will:

• Drink maximum water (aim for your body weight in ounces)

• Consume all the veggies at your disposal (cooked and/or chewed as well as can be)

• Refrain from all toxins (alcohol, drugs, and whatever else you know does your body harm). 

Yes, this takes some willpower, but you can do it! The 24-hours will fly by and in the end, you’ll feel great in your body. What could be better than that!

Pro tip: Compounding stress wreaks havoc on the body. Whether with physical, mental, or emotional discomfort, look for the “yellow light” before you hit “red.” For example, if you notice that your natural rhythm is off (bowel movements, sleeping habits, mood, etc.), try an active solution right away, rather than hoping for the issue to resolve itself. Movement, journaling, hydration, and sleep are a few potential solutions that can work wonders.

3. Have a Morning Mindset Moment

We could go on and on about the power of having a morning routine, but the fact is, mornings can be a time crunch or sometimes nonexistent. Even if the only thinking time you have is during your two-minute teeth-brushing, that’s enough to make a big impact on your wellbeing. The Morning Mindset Moment is when you decide how or who you will be today. Whatever cards life handed you, how can you work with the resources you have available and make the most of it? Create a positive affirmation that aligns with your reality and repeat it to yourself over and over again throughout the day. Believe it! 

Pro tip: If you have some time to supercharge your morning, add in some movement, music, and writing.

There you have it. Certainly this is not an exhaustive list of how you can care for your body through the holidays, but we wanted to share just a manageable few actions that yield maximum results for minimal effort. What do you think- is there anything you would like to add?