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Some of
us look forward to the holiday season with joy, and some of us think about the
holidays and immediately want to take a nap. That’s because, no matter how
joyous our celebrations are, they can cause fatigue when added to the
responsibilities of our daily lives. Prioritizing your energy during the
holidays can help you enjoy them a lot more. Here are 7 energy zappers and
boosters for this holiday season.
1. Sleep
When we
are tired, the first place we need to make changes is in our sleep. Everyone
knows they should sleep 7-8 hours per night, but that can be hard to manage,
especially during the busy holiday season. Setting a sleep schedule and trying
to adhere to it most nights of the week will help. Also important is your
quality of sleep. Make sure you are creating a comfortable sleep environment
and limiting distractions.
2. Hydration
Most of us do not drink enough water throughout the day, yet proper
hydration is essential to the functioning of our organs. When we are even
mildly dehydrated, our blood pressure drops and our blood cannot deliver proper
nutrients and oxygen to our muscles and organs efficiently. One of the first
easily overlooked signs of dehydration is fatigue. Experts say we should be
consuming between ¾ of a gallon (women) to 1 gallon (men) of water per day.
That can be in the form of water, fruit juices, herbal teas, or other beverages.
3. Say
No
Sometimes it feels like the demands on our time are endless, but in the
holiday season, those demands multiply. It is ok to say no to other people’s
requests of you, especially if they require a lot of your time. Finding ways to
save time in your holiday preparations is also essential. Bringing a store-bought
cake or pie is not a negative reflection on your character; you are bringing
something delicious, and it will probably cost only slightly more than the
ingredients needed to make it. Plus, you can feel good knowing you are
supporting your local economy while putting your feet up and practicing some
self-care.
4. Sugar
Tasty, sweet treats are everywhere during the holidays, but they are,
unfortunately, also a source of our fatigue. They give us a burst of energy,
and once we burn through those simple sugars, they can leave us hungry,
irritable, and anxious. One way to avoid sugar crashes is to avoid sugar, but
are we really going to do that during the holidays? Honestly? Another way to
help mitigate their effects is to eat our treats after we have eaten other
nutritious foods such as those high in protein and fiber. Everything will be
digested together, and the protein and fiber promote more stable blood sugar.
5. Caffeine
and alcohol
If you,
like many, are in a cycle of having a glass or two of alcohol at an evening
holiday party or dinner and then trying to wake yourself up with caffeine
during the day, you could be worsening your fatigue without even realizing it.
The after-effects of alcohol consumption can leave us feeling lethargic and
dehydrated, and caffeine can interrupt our sleep cycles and leave us feeling
wired but still tired. If you’re feeling tired, but you think you’re sleeping
enough, try limiting alcohol and caffeine. There are many delicious mocktail
recipes available so you can still serve guests non-alcoholic options (or bring
your own mocktails to share) and decaffeinated coffee will let you have your
coffee fix while prioritizing your sleep.
6. Exercise
It may seem counterintuitive to exercise when
you are tired, but exercise will give you energy. Not only does it increase
oxygenation to your organs, but it also oxygenates your cells causing them to
increase production of mitochondria, which we all learned in school is the
powerhouse of the cell. More mitochondria mean more energy for your body on a
cellular level. Exercising consistently, even when you’re tired, will have
immediate and long-range benefits on your energy level.
7. Nutrition
It
feels like the holidays force us to overindulge, but we have some choices in
how we handle that. Planning your meals ahead of time helps. If you know you’re
likely to indulge later in the day, having a light, nutritious breakfast and
lunch, can mitigate those effects. Nutrition, though, isn’t only about
calories. Making sure we are providing our bodies with the vitamins, minerals,
and antioxidants that we need will help improve our energy levels. Superberries
Aronia berry products can help you boost the nutritional value of almost every
dish from mocktails to main dishes to desserts. They include high levels of
antioxidants which can help reduce fatigue and oxidative stress on the body.
Holiday gatherings shouldn’t leave us exhausted and feeling guilty about the choices we make. Prioritizing your energizing habits will make you and everyone around you enjoy the holidays more. Choosing to include Superberries Aronia berry products in your daily meals is one great first step to taking care of you.
