Natural Ways to Stay Energized During the Holidays
For many of us, the holidays are a fun and busy season - full of extra errands and shopping, travel and entertaining. If you and your family want to make the most of these special times together, there are plenty of natural and effective ways to keep your energy levels up. Let’s get into them right away. If one of these strategies call out to you, share it with a friend or family member and think a bit about how you might make it part of your holdiay routine.
Eat Smart
Slow down at big meals. Or should I say avoid eating too much at one sitting. Our body has to work harder to digest those huge holiday dinners - resulting in sluggishness and less connection. Try to eat more slowly and limit your portions by putting less on your plate. If you find yourself dying to go back for seconds, slow it down, pause and then if you must, eat even more slowly on your second plate.
Reach for healthy snacks. Complex carbohydrates will give you energy fast. Protein and good fats provides fuel for the longer term. Make a salad of walnuts and winter greens. Have an Energy Bars. Put some butter in your coffee! (bet you didn’t see that one coming! - but if it’s organic butter, it will make you less hungry throughout the next couple of hours).
Eat more fiber. Foods rich in fiber help your body break down carbohydrates at a steadier pace over a longer time. That gives you more stamina. Feast on whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Stay hydrated. Munch on foods that are high in water content like celery sticks and grapefruit. Drink plenty of water too. Go for at least 2 liters a day if you can. Your blood will flow more easily, transporting the oxygen and nutrients your cells need.
Eat a healthy breakfast. You're might feel fatigued if you don’t refuel in the morning. So when hunger strikes in the AM, make it alright to sit down and have a protein rich breakfast. A healthy breakfast will also make it easier to resist fattening snacks or overeating at later meals.
Sleep Well
Take a nap. Naps of 20 minutes or less will help you recharge and revitalize you. Or laying down and listening to sleep music for 15 minutes while relaxing your body can make a world of difference in your energy. And if you have even less time, just closing your eyes for a few minutes and taking some deep breaths can be very refreshing.
Watch out for extra caffeine. Those chocolates and peppermint-flavored coffee drinks may put you over your limit for caffeine, and can ruin your sleep if you drink them too late. If they're keeping you up at night, cut back.
Drink alcohol in moderation. A cocktail may help you fall asleep faster but it interferes with the quality of your sleep. Try to avoid any alcohol within a few hours of bedtime.
Place a curfew on online shopping. You can shop for gifts all night on the Internet but you'll feel the effects the next day. Turn the computer off a couple of hours before retiring to adjust your mind and body after the mental stimulation and lighted screen.
Stick to a regular schedule. Holiday parties and travel may interrupt your daily routines. Even still, as much as possible, getting up and going to bed around the same time each day will help you stay in top shape.
More Lifestyle Tips
Exercise every day. A brisk walk or other moderate aerobics will wake you up and pump more oxygen to your brain. Take the stairs at the shopping mall (two at a time if you dare) and park farther from the entrance.
Clear away clutter. You'll feel more restful when your surroundings are in good order. Recycle those gift wrappings and tidy up after parties to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Alternate between tasks. Baking hundreds of cookies and wrapping mountains of gifts can be tiring. Switching off between jobs can help some. Even better, recruit family and friends to divide the load.
Manage stress. Feeling more stress this time of year is natural. To help prevent this, listen to relaxing music, meditate or talk with friends. A positive outlook can make handling extra tasks much easier.
Focus on giving. Giving to others is the best part of the holiday season and the most effective way to stay energized. You'll feel motivated to accomplish more with less effort when you think about making others happy. Share your time and attention with the people you love and do some volunteer work to connect with others in your community.
The holiday season can be demanding, but simple lifestyle changes are usually enough to keep you alert and merry. Watch your diet, get plenty of rest, and manage stress so you'll be ready to tackle all the shopping and parties.
Joe Mitchell, is a High Performance Coach, who has logged over 35 years of in-depth study of personal and spiritual development. In his studies, he has done hundreds of self development courses, spiritual retreats and health related workshops. Coach Joe is a certified yoga teacher, meditation teacher, EFT Practitioner, NLP Practitioner and a graduate of three coaching academies. He was also a member of a religious order for 5 years. In 2016, after a 20 year career as a criminal and personal injury attorney, he decided to turn his heart's passion into a career as a Success Coach, Motivational Speaker and Trainer. For information on Coach Joe’s programs, high performance videos and to apply for a Free High Performance Session click the following link http://www.activateyourgreatness.com/free-session