The holidays season is over, many of us have started work again and even though it’s the start of a new year, your body could feel quite tired right now. The stress leading up to Christmas and New Year, which is often a busy time, and everything we ate and drunk during those festivities is taking its toll on our body. Not a great way to start with a clean slate and thus January is the perfect time to make some time for a thorough detox. But where to start, what to do? Here are 5 things you could do to detox your body (and mind) after the holidays.
1. Drink (less)
We shouldn’t have to tell you that all the alcohol you probably drunk during the holidays hasn’t done your body any good. Your liver is doing overtime, toxines are all around and you’ve probably also gained some weight due to that alcohol intake – after all, a beer or glass of wine do contain quite a bit of calories. Therefore, many people are participating in Dry January, trying not to drink any beverages containing alcohol during the first month of the year. Even if you don’t cut out all alcoholic drinks, it would be a great idea to at least drink less. However, do try to drink at least 2 litres of water a day and maybe integrate some green tea into your daily habits as well in order to detoxify.
2. Eat wisely
Chances are, you’ve consumed a lot of sugary, fat, maybe even processed foods over the course of the holidays. More often than not, we associate comfort food with festivities and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, those foods aren’t the best for your body, so concentrating on healthier alternatives is the thing to do at the start of the year. Try to incorporate as many antioxidant-rich dishes into your diet as possible, which will help to reset your body and to protect it against stress. You can (almost) never eat too many fruits, nuts and vegetables.
3. Get some sleep
Not only the way we eat and drink changes during the holidays, our sleep pattern too takes a hit. Family dinners, outings with friends, late-night drives… Your sleep quality probably wasn’t the best over the last couple of weeks. Which is a shame, as our sleeping quality is directly linked to our health and the way we can mentally cope with stress, changes and so on. InJanuary, try to stick to a good sleeping rhythm and to get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night.
4. Be active
Many of us try to be more active at the start of the year, for example by taking up running again or by setting some other workout related goal. And even though you shouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself, it is actually a great idea to try and be more active after the holidays. Not only will it help to loose those holiday kilos but it releases endorphins in your body, which give your immune system and overall health a boost. Moreover, if you go for a walk in the morning, that exposure to daylight will help to regulate your circadian rhythm, which in turn allows you to sleep better at night.
5. Make time for yourself
The holidays are, for a great deal of us, a very busy time, filled with social obligations of all sorts. And when you’re running from one dinner to the next, it can be tempting to make less time for yourself. Even though that’s not a problem when it’s just temporary, try to incorporate some extra me-time in January, as it allows you to relax, to think things through, to slow down for a little while, to take care of yourself in whichever way pleases you. After all, our physical and mental health are very closely linked, so getting in the right headspace is the first step to getting your body back on track after a hectic period.
