Well, it’s the silly season again & the festivities are in full swing! Parties, get togethers and celebrations galore generally mean indulgence and excess in more ways than one. Richer food, one too many drinks, later nights and busier days. It can be tricky to find the balance and stay healthy amid the hustle and bustle. To prevent festive season fatigue and keep you enjoying the holidays, here are a few tips to help you stay on track.

Stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and adding in a serve of electrolytes each day to keep your mineral levels balanced. Look for formulas free of artificial colours and flavours. Drinking coconut water, if you like it, is another great way to get essential electrolytes.

Nourish yourself with nutrient dense foods in between the social gatherings. Eat plenty of whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, lean protein, whole grains and legumes. These foods have loads of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre and other phytonutrients important for our overall health.

Take a good quality multivitamin/mineral as well to make sure you have enough essential nutrients in times of elevated stress. I hear it often from clients…”Oh, I’m not stressed!” However, even though you may be having fun over Christmas & New Year, your body may still be under a certain amount of stress processing Christmas lunch & all of those champagnes on New Years! Add to that the mental stress of Christmas shopping & juggling school holidays, work & relatives visiting (perhaps there may be emotional stress thrown in there too!) and you’ve got a system in potential overload. Making sure your adrenals and nervous system have the essential nutrients they need is a must.

Consider some digestive enzymes too, to help your body assimilate foods that you may normally avoid or eat rarely, but give in to, in the Christmas spirit of sharing & celebrating. Choose a good broad spectrum formula, which will help you to break down carbs (amylase), proteins (protease), fats (lipase) & fibre (cellulase).

Another thing to support you is some St. Mary’s Thistle. This herb is a wonderful antioxidant and protector of the liver and will help to reduce the harmful affects of too much alcohol. Not only will it work to help prevent damage, but it is also used to help heal and repair the liver.

Rest and relax in between the engagements and greetings. Take time each day to recharge, even if it is just for a short time. A walk on the beach, some quiet time with a cuppa in the garden, an extra half an hour sleep in, a meditation or a yoga stretch. Make time to check in with yourself and how you are feeling and grant your body & mind the things it is asking for. Even if it is just a few deep breaths before you move from one activity to the next. Staying in tune with your needs will help you sail through the festive season.

I know these things all seem obvious, but it is amazing how the simple and obvious things get overlooked when life gets busy and we end up overcommitted and exhausted. It’s hard to really relax and enjoy ourselves if we are rushing too much, striving for perfection and ignoring our own needs.

Keeping our awareness on the basic things which keep us healthy will help us stay focussed on what is really important. Spending time with loved ones, giving generously from the heart and feeling gratitude for the blessings in our lives. For me, this is truly the message of the festive season.

I wish for you and yours a peaceful, happy and loving time.