Getting Past the “Holiday Funk”

We did it!  We make it through the holidays.  We survived crowds of people, relatives, overeating, sleeping in, drinking fancy holiday drinks, and time off from our normal lives.  It’s all so exhausting, isn’t it? Now you’re probably sitting there wondering where your loosest pair of pants are so you’re still able to breath at work on Monday.  Don’t be too hard on yourself.  You’re not alone.

There’s nothing wrong with indulging a bit, as long as you aren’t making yourself sick.  Chances are you’re feeling tired, bloated, and completely unmotivated to start adulting again.  That’s ok!  With a little help, you can get rid of the holiday funk in no time.

Try some of these tricks:

1. Water.  The biggest thing your body needs to get back on track is probably hydration.  Start each morning by drinking 8oz of water before you have anything else to eat or drink…yes, even coffee!  Keep drinking filtered water throughout the day to keep your cells hydrated and flushed of toxins.
2. Veg Out. Eat fresh vegetables and fruits at every meal.  That doesn’t mean you have to go vegetarian.  Just have a serving.  Try to eat produce of all different colors.  The colors actually indicate the types of nutrients that each fruit or veggie contains, and those nutrients will wage war against the funk.
3. Stretch. The thought of breaking a sweat probably makes you want to crawl back in bed right now.  Besides, it’s better to ease into physical activity.  Start by doing some stretches every day.  Pick a time of day that you can commit to every single day.  Start with 10 minutes.  You can stretch on your own or look on YouTube for free yoga for beginners videos.
4. Sleep. Get back to a regular sleeping schedule.  Go to bed and get up around the same time every day.  This will probably be hard at first.  To help you fall asleep faster, try meditating while laying in bed.  Try using guided meditations like the ones in the app Insight Timer.  You can also try herbal tea (without honey or sugar) before bed.  Herbs like chamomile, valerian, mint, lemon balm, and lavender are calming.  (Check with your health care provider if you are currently taking any medication that may interact with herbs.)

These tips might seem basic and easy to implement, and for the most part they are, but that makes the easier to stick to in the long run.  Keeping up on these simple habits can give you a solid foundation to keep nurturing your health.

Do you feel like you need more help getting back on track?  Join my 6 Week Jump Start Program!  Click HERE for details.