It’s that time of year again where the champagne is flowing, the platters are aplenty, and we are in full swing of celebrating the new year! Woo hoo!! Although this time of year is filled with opportunities for family connection, social interaction and personal downtime; it can equally be filled with opportunities for overindulgence, unhealthy choices and late nights, plus the additional unhealthy emotions of guilt. The result is that instead of gracefully sailing into the new year, we enter it with a big crash, feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and “sluggish”. Rather than spending the entire silly season in lock down (because let’s be honest no one wants to miss out on a second serving of dessert at Xmas lunch), a little preparation and planning can help avoid the pitfalls while still enjoying this fun time of year. Here are our 6 easy holiday tips to stay healthy and happy during the silly season.

Move your Body

Yes, you may get a little out of routine this time of year and it’s okay to relax from your usual regime while you’re on holidays. However, that doesn’t mean your exercise needs to completely go out the window. Our bodies are built to move, and a little physical activity throughout the silly season can help manage stress levels and maintain energy levels. Why not use this fabulous time of year as an excuse to get out in nature and enjoy a swim in the ocean, play backyard cricket with the kids or surf your favourite beach break. The options are endless in our beautiful country.

Get your sleep

Through all the fun and chaos of this crazy time of year, our precious hours of sleep are guaranteed to take a hit. Too many late nights can take a toll on our health and leave us feeling flat. It is important to plan for as many early nights as you can to make up for the late ones you’ll be having. Try take advantage of any free time throughout your days. Research has shown a 20-minute nap can refresh the body, boost your brain function and keep you going for rest of the celebrations. If you require a little extra help to get a good night’s sleep, Ancient Minerals Goodnight Melatonin lotion will help your body relax and drift off for a well-rested sleep.

Nourish your liver

It takes a very special person to completely avoid the celebratory end of year drinks or that one too many serves of Christmas dessert. This is the time of year that we can let our hair down and loosen up from our normal routines. Therefore, it is important to nurture and support our livers throughout the festive season as they will be working extra hard to keep up its detoxing processes. Herbal medicines are a favourite among naturopaths and can assist the detoxification process. They can improve detoxification pathways in the liver, providing a protective effect on liver cells and improve kidney and bowel function, helping to eliminate detoxified molecules. St Mary’s Thistle is my favourite liver herb, as it works beautifully to detoxify the liver from alcohol and rich and fatty foods. It is important to also include foods in your diet that support liver detox pathways such as broccoli, turmeric, grapefruit, leafy greens, avocado and garlic.

Support your digestion

It’s safe to say we are all guilty of overeating at the annual Christmas lunch. Leaving us feeling bloated, uncomfortable and wanting for an afternoon nap. Digestive enzymes can be your best ally this year, as they work to break down the rich festive foods, whilst still ensuring we’re getting as many nutrients from our food as possible. This in turn will reduce your bloating and you shouldn’t feel as tired. Herbs of Gold Digest-Zymes are a great choice to help fight those feelings of fullness. Take at the start of a meal to help avoid indigestion, bloating and gas.

Power your Immune System

Antioxidants are powerful compounds in our foods that help to keep our immune systems working strong. They help protect healthy cells in our body caused by nasty free radicals. This time of year, free radicals will be flying high from our extra stress, alcohol and processed foods. Keep up your antioxidant-rich foods to help fight them off. These include berries, apricots, avocado, almonds, spinach, eggplant, onions and garlic, just to name a few. If you want a super charge of antioxidants, supplement with 1-2 tablespoons of Percy’s Beta Boost daily which delivers a powerhouse of antioxidants.

Stay Hydrated

This is the simplest but most forgotten tip. With all the festivities going on, we often forget to keep hydrated. When our bodies are lacking water, we can become lethargic, our digestion can slow, and our liver cannot filter out toxins properly. The trick is to keep a bottle of water with you during the day even before you head out. This way you will always have the reminder to fill it and drink it. The Ever Eco drink bottles are a great way to stay hydrated. They are made from durable stainless steel and BPA-free, making them a safe and sustainable way to carry water.