5 ways to avoid the holiday hangover
Happy New Year everybody! 2019 is off to the races and many of us begin January with very high aspirations and expectations for the year ahead. With that being said, the last couple weeks have been a great time to hit the reset button and get some much needed rest and relaxation. Hopefully you were able to take some time to clear your head and be around those you care about. To ensure that you don't hit a wall as we dive head first into 2019, here are 5 ways to avoid that holiday hangover.
5) Get into a daily workout routine in- I like to begin my day by kicking my own butt and getting a good sweat in. The endorphins flow, and it is a great stress reliever during those hard winter days. You will be in a much better overall mood if you are able to get in sixty minutes of exercise 5-6 days a week.
4) 30 second cold as ice showers- I know it sounds crazy right? It is January and unless you live in florida or southern california, odds are you are shivering at the thought of a cold shower. Talk about a great way to start your day. As soon as I wake up I lug myself into the bathroom and crank the water on as cold as possible, take a deep breath and just go for it. Once you get out and dry off you feel like a million bucks and are ready to tackle your day!
3) Intermittent fasting- I love food, and intermittent fasting allows me to treat myself more often than not. As much as I do my best to get my vegetable intake in, it just as important to focus on when you are eating. Your metabolism will speed up if you can avoid eating during sixteen or eighteen hour stretches everyday. I usually only eat between the hours of either 2pm-8pm or 4pm and 10pm. Obviously everybody is different with their schedules and this might not work for you, but I have seen first hand that you gain way more mental clarity and can stay at a consistent weight if you are able to get into this cycle. You can eat during an eight hour cycle and even have it cater around your work schedule in which you eat between the hours of 11am-7pm which allows you to get lunch and dinner in around the normal times. Some of you might look at breakfast as crucial for your mental focus. If that works for you then keep at it. I start my day with a cup of coffee and a dash of cinnamon which helps power me through the early part of the workday.
2) Meditate- I am very high energy and have a wired personality and if I can sit still in a chair for a few minutes than rest assured, any of you can. In an era when we have so much information thrown at us from every angle, it is great to be able to take a step back and just breathe. If you can squeeze out twenty minutes a day to just sit in a chair and do this you will see the dividends pay off in due time. I highly recommend downloading some binaural beats, as the tones will help relax you and makes easing into meditation way easier based on my experience thus far.
1) Read- As important as it is to exercise your body, your mind needs the same type of dedication. Reading allows just that and it is a great way to put yourself in the heads of others and understand different perspectives. I find reading very therapeutic, and it always keeps me centered. I usually read in the beginning and at the end of each day. Waking up and reading for a half hour is a great way to get your brain out of sleep mode and ready to take on the day! Ending the night the same way will naturally relax your eyes and make it easier for you to fall asleep. I find it important to avoid being around technology within the last hour before I go to sleep because the bright light of my laptop or a television will keep me alert for a longer period of time.
I wish everybody a happy and healthy 2019, time to crush it!