17 Sneaky Ways to Stay Energized During the Holiday Season

Posted December 15, 2014

Deck the halls, sing we joyous—cue the exhaustion. Ideally the holidays would be all about popping champagne and exchanging gifts while giggling gleefully. But the reality is that between family obligations, frantic shopping, and wrapping up last-minute tasks at work, the holidays can be mostly stressful and even depressing. Luckily we’ve got 17 ways to keep spirits and energy up this holiday season. Read on and prepare to get pumped!

1. Avoid binging.

Santa’s belly may fit all the cookies in the world, but ours do not. When we gobble down a big meal, blood leaves the rest of the body to help break down the goodies in the digestive system, leaving us feeling slow and sluggish. Avoid the festive food coma by sticking to a normal-sized plate at holiday dinners.

2. Limit sugar intake.

A box of red and green sweets may seem like a quick pick-me-up—and it is, until a few hours later, when you’re sprawled on the desk with a candy cane stuck to your face. Eating lots of sugar at once can lead to an energetic high followed by a giant crash, so avoid reaching for thirds and fourths during dessert A high sugar content, low caffeine drink does not alleviate sleepiness but may worsen it. Anderson, C., Horne, J.A. Sleep Research Centre, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK. Human Psychopharmacology, 2006;21(5):299-303.. And when that sweet tooth makes a guest appearance, be sure to combine sugar with foods high in fiber, fat, and protein to make sure all that sugar isn’t released into the bloodstream at once.

3. Go for coffee and chocolate.

It’s no excuse to go wild, but these naturally-caffeinated products can perk us up when we’re experiencing an energy low or bad mood Effects of caffeine on alertness. Zwyghuizen-Doorenbos, A., Roehrs, T.A., Lipschutz, L., et al. Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI. Psychopharmacology 1990;100(1):36-9. Consumption of cocoa flavanols results in acute improvements in mood and cognitive performance during sustained mental effort. Scholey, A.B., French, S.J., Morris, P.J. NICM Centre for the Study of Natural Medicines and Neurocognition, Brain Sciences Institute, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Journal of Psychopharmacology 2010;24(10):1505-14.. Try a coffee-chocolate combo like this espresso crinkle to keep everyone awake for the festivities. But beware of the abundance of sweet treats this time of year and be sure to indulge in moderation!

4. Don’t eat late at night.

Holiday parties may last until the wee hours, but that’s no reason to down a slice of pumpkin pie to celebrate the stroke of midnight. Eating late at night can contribute to fatigue the next day, so stick to a normal meal schedule and eat a nutritious dinner before the party starts to avoid late-night chowing. (It’s best to stop eating about an hour before bedtime.)

5. Complicate your carbs.

While the simple carbohydrates found in refined foods (aka holiday …read more

Source:: Greatist

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