It's no secret that Christmas is a stressful time, what jam-packed schedules of family time, present buying and excessive Christmas eating.
According to a recent study by the University of Edinburgh, the festive stress scratches beyond the surface and we all unwittingly suffer from 'Christmas hormones'. These occur during the festive season and causes a potent mix of cortisol, serotonin and dopamine to soar through our bodies, causing highs and lows but mostly chronic fatigue.
If you're feeling overwhelmed with the pre-Christmas madness and are preparing yourself for a post-festive crash, find out how you can fight the festive fatigue and feel fabulous this Christmas.
How To Fight Fatigue
How To Fight Fatigue (01 of11)
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Stay Hydrated(02 of11)
"We actually become stressed when we're dehydrated, particularly if alcohol is consumed, so aim for 1-2 litres a day; and cut back on caffeine which is an artificial form of adrenaline and can affect sleep patterns leaving you jittery and anxious - you should avoid caffeine altogether after 3pm."Sleep and Energy Coach at Capio Nightingale Hospital, Dr. Nerina Ramlakhan. (credit:Alamy)
Eat Mindfully(03 of11)
"Although many of us think we are eating healthy, that diet can make us fatigued. Most "healthy" meals are explained away as oatmeal for breakfast with fruit, lettuce with greens for lunch, brown rice with what ever for dinner. Those same people say they dont eat carbs. Let me make this quite clear..... fruits and vegetables and grains are carbohydrates. Start your day with a protein, eggs, cheese, yogurt, even almond butter and you wont crash thru out the rest of the day."Dr Eva Cwynar, author of The Fatigue Solution. (credit:Alamy)
Go Nuts(04 of11)
"Have a handful of nuts mid-morning and mid-afternoon, the most common slump-times, to provide a lovely hit of protein to balance blood sugar levels. Raid the snack bowl of almonds, or hazelnuts, then add a piece of fruit for natural fructose for a natural energy boost."Director of Vitality4Life, Ricky Hay. (credit:Alamy)
Drink Coffee(05 of11)
"Coffee can actually help boost your adrenal glands (which are burnt out in most of us and the main culpret for fatigue). Coffee, yes, good but only 1/2 cup and only in the morning. Most than that or at a different time puts your hormones into hydharmony and then just like many recreational drugs, we want more and more and it becomes less and less effective."Dr Eva Cwynar, author of The Fatigue Solution. (credit:Alamy)
Keep On Moving (06 of11)
"Don't stop moving! Make time to go and get some fresh air either for a run, jog or walk. Take full advantage of the sunnier weather and lighter evenings, wrap up to go outside and spend 5 minutes at the beginning of your day exercising and you will feel good for the rest of the day."Personal trainer, Khalid Ismail. (credit:Alamy)
Maintain Healthy Nutrition(07 of11)
"Eat breakfast every morning within 30 minutes of rising to kick start your energy and metabolism and minimise production of adrenaline - it also helps burn any extra calories consumed during the day more efficiently. This will give you bundles of energy to tackle to day ahead."Sleep and Energy Coach at Capio Nightingale Hospital, Dr. Nerina Ramlakhan. (credit:Alamy)
Don't Have Unrealistic Expectations(08 of11)
"If you're a busy, working mum or person, you'll only have feelings of disappointment and stress if you have high expectations of your day ahead. To alleviate stress and anxiety, try to accept the fact that things will go wrong. "Kids may have a meltdown, dinner may not come out as perfectly as you hope, people may demand your time. Being prepared for imperfection can help reduce everyday stress."Life coach, Sophia Davis. (credit:Alamy)
Sleep!(09 of11)
"Recharge you batteries over by getting good rest and exercise, topping up good quality sleep with power naps if possible - research has shown that these naps re-balance the immune and nervous systems." Sleep and Energy Coach at Capio Nightingale Hospital, Dr. Nerina Ramlakhan. (credit:Alamy)
Drink (Green) Tea(10 of11)
"Green tea and ginseng tea are great energy boosters. Green tea contains antioxidant properties to fight free radicals."Health and Beauty Expert, Tina Richards. (credit:Alamy)
Steer Clear Of 'Bad Sugars'(11 of11)
"Stay away from artificial sweeteners. Sugar substitutes like stevia and zylitol are fine, even good for you, but compounds containing substances such as aspartame can ruin the integrity of your gut and create chaos. Digestion gets slowed, bloating occurs, bowel movements become chaotic and fatigue sets in. No diet drinks..... ever."Dr Eva Cwynar, author of The Fatigue Solution. (credit:Alamy)