How to Enjoy the Holidays and Protect Your Energy

The holiday season is meant to feel joyful - warm weather, celebrations, time with people we love.
But for many women, December feels busy, pressured, and a little chaotic. Routines disappear, everything speeds up, and our bodies feel it: disrupted sleep, bloating, low energy, and that sense of being “always on.”

If you’ve felt stretched thin in previous years, you’re not alone - and you don’t need strict plans or perfect habits to feel grounded. Small, gentle choices can support your gut, hormones, and energy without taking away the fun.

Think of this guide as permission to slow down, soften, and take care of yourself in ways that feel good, not forced.

Why Holidays Are Hard on Your Health

The festive season creates the perfect storm for feeling off:

Disrupted routines

Late nights, forgotten water bottles, skipped meals, rushed snacks… your body thrives on routine, and December pulls you out of it.

More indulgent food + alcohol

Nothing wrong with enjoying it - but richer meals and extra drinks can lead to bloating, reflux, or sluggishness.

Higher emotional load

Family dynamics, gift expectations, school holidays, work deadlines. Your nervous system is busier than usual.

Less downtime

Your system heals and digests best when you pause and December gives you fewer pauses.

Understanding this is empowering - it removes the guilt and gives you the clarity to support your body with a few simple shifts.

Practical Ways to Stay Energised (Without Restriction)

1. Prioritise a Protein-Rich Breakfast

This is one of the easiest ways to stabilise blood sugar, reduce cravings, and prevent the mid-morning slump.

Examples:

• Eggs + avocado toast

• Greek yoghurt with fruit and nuts

• Smoothie with protein + berries + oats

• Chia pudding with yoghurt

Small upgrade, big impact.

2. Stay Hydrated (Especially With Alcohol Around)

Hydration is one of the first things to slip in December.

Try:

• A full glass of water first thing

• Alternating alcoholic drinks with sparkling water

• Keeping a water bottle nearby during events

Hydration supports digestion, skin, energy, and reduces bloating.

3. Keep Gentle Movement in Your Routine

Not workouts you “should” do - movement that feels good.

Options:

• A walk after meals

• Stretching in the evening

• A quick Pilates flow

• Dancing in your kitchen (counts!)

Gentle movement improves circulation, steadies your nervous system, and supports gut motility.

4. Build Mini Rest Moments

You don’t need long breaks - just small pockets of quiet.

Try:

• Sitting outside for 5 minutes

• Slow breathing before meals

• Reading for 10 minutes before bed

• A Luxurious Shower (no rushing!)

These micro-moments reset your stress response and help digestion work better.

Support Your Gut — Without Cutting Anything Out

December isn’t the time for restriction. It’s the time for balance, nourishment, and joy. Instead of thinking about what to remove, focus on what you can add:

1. Add fibre

Salads, veggie sticks, fruit, whole grains - they support digestion naturally.

2. Add fermented foods

If available: yoghurt, sauerkraut, kimchi. Just small amounts are helpful.

3. Add magnesium-rich foods

Nuts, seeds, leafy greens, dark chocolate. They calm the nervous system and support bowels.

4. Add slow eating

Sitting down, chewing well, and taking a breath before meals can reduce reflux and bloating more than you think.

It’s not about avoiding dessert - it’s about supporting your body so you can enjoy it comfortably

You don’t have to choose between joy and rest

One of the most important things to remember is that you don’t have to pull back from every social event or force yourself into a rigid routine to feel well during December. You can still enjoy the late nights, the catch-ups, the food, the fun — and support your energy and digestion at the same time.

It’s not about saying no to everything. It’s about finding tiny moments to slow down, eat mindfully, breathe, move gently, and come back to yourself so you don’t hit that burnout wall by mid-month or think you have to jump into another restrictive unrealistic diet in the new year.

Small adjustments make a big difference.

Final Thoughts

The holidays don’t have to undo your health - and you don’t need rigid plans to feel good.

By weaving in tiny, supportive habits and giving yourself permission to rest, you can enjoy the season and take care of your body at the same time.

✨ Want more personalised support for energy, gut health or hormones?
You can book a free 15-minute call with me - I’d love to help you finish the year feeling grounded and begin 2026 with clarity