Need more energy and stamina for the parties and holidays

If it’s been a big year for you, the last thing you want is to crash and burn just as you are entering the holiday season. Holidays can bring joy and excitement into your life, but not if you’re feeling fatigued and sluggish before it even starts. Having the stamina and energy to do the fun things you have planned on your holidays is very important. In order to enjoy all the holidays have to offer without feeling like an exhausted, limp rag by the New Year, here are some strategies to consider so that you can have a great time and enjoy all of those special events without suffering from the burn out.

Make rest a priority

Christmas and New Year’s parties mean late nights, and if you have several to attend you may want to schedule in some siestas or even just power naps to help your body cope with the decreased sleep. It amazing how uplifting a 10 minute power nap can be. Studies have shown that a nap lasting from 10 to 30 minutes can decrease sleepiness and fatigue, increase vigour, and brain performance.

Good food and teas to balance the overindulgence

Overindulging on the holidays can result in fatigue and bloating. On your non festive party days why not try to:

• Plan lighter meals with raw fruit or vegetable salads
• Go for smaller meals choosing lower GI options
• Try intermittent fasting or juicing post party to lighten the load on the digestive system
• Drink herbal teas like green tea, peppermint, dandelion or ginger to help with digestion and to cleanse your body

Drink plenty of fresh water to flush out toxins and hydrate your cells

Stick to water and herbal teas as much as possible between parties. This will give your body a rest, will help flush out toxins, boost your digestion and energy, and prevent you from gaining a few extra kilos. Remember:

• Specialty lattes, eggnogs and mochas are loaded with calories - limit your intake at events and don’t have them between parties, this will help reduce calorie overload over the holidays.
• Watch your alcohol consumption at those holiday parties. Pick a sensible maximum number of drinks you will have and stick to it.
• Have two glasses of water for every alcoholic drink.

Dancing = Exercise

Many parties include dancing, so take the opportunity to hit the dance floor! Incidental exercise is the best way to boost energy levels and burn calories in the silly season.  Those that exercise moderately for as little as 30 minutes a day were shown to have fewer cravings for sugar and fat laden foods, and felt more energetic during the day.

Cordyceps, a supplement for your energy and stamina

Supporting your body with supplements is a wise way to prevent burn out and post party fatigue. Cordyceps is one of the most valued medicinal fungi in all Chinese Medicine. Cordyceps may help you maintain stamina and endurance in times of stress, physical exertion and extra demand. It also has a number of other uses and can support the respiratory system, immune system, nervous system, kidneys and glandular system.

Mr Vitamins recommends

Nature's Sunshine Cordyceps Find out more about Cordyceps here See our article Cordyceps: Help with Sports Performance and much more here     Lahl, O. Et al(2008). "An ultra short episode of sleep is sufficient to promote declarative memory performance". Journal of Sleep Research. Vol 17, Iss. 1, pages 3–10, March 2008