5 Ways to Start a Healthy Detox After the Holidays

Starting around Halloween, the holiday season tends to get the best of all of us. From delicious treats to decadent feasts, we fall off our health train into a pit of gravy and chocolate. Don’t feel too bad. That’s what the holiday season is for. You’re supposed to enjoy time with loved ones, and if that involves eating foods you usually don’t indulge in, then that’s okay. However, it can be a struggle to get yourself back on track once the festivities have ended. Keep reading to learn five ways to start a healthy detox after the holidays.

Set Obtainable Goals

First, make a list of things you would like to achieve this year and prioritize them. Start with one and work your way down the list over time. While you might be tempted to try and achieve more than one goal at a time, trust us, you’ll experience more success if you give your all to a single goal at a time.

It’s also important to set small, manageable goals. Small goals are essential to healthy, sustainable change. If you go too fast too soon, whether it’s in regard to exercise or diet, you risk overwhelming yourself, which can lead to failure. Achieve one goal at a time. These small goals will slowly compound into a bigger change than you were probably expecting in the first place.

Drink Water

On average, you should drink at least eight cups of water a day. This number should increase if you’re exercising or sweating a lot. By drinking water regularly, your body will learn to associate dehydration with a need for water rather than hunger, which happens much too often to many people. Make sure to carry a water bottle with you wherever you go and to refill it every chance you get so you never run out.

You may also try warming your water and adding lemon. The combination of warm water and lemon promotes hydration and stimulates digestion. Not only will the water help your liver filter out toxins (detox), but it can also help relieve bloating and other gastrointestinal irregularities.

Do Some Yoga

 Yoga is a great way to get your nervous system back into balance and boost your mood by keeping you relaxed. Go for routines that involve supported poses held for more extended periods. It’s all about doing less yet still feeling restored. You can also try myofascial techniques. These techniques work by correcting muscle imbalances, improving joint range of motion, and relieving soreness and joint stress. Any type of physical activity is great to get your heart rate elevated and your body moving. However, yoga will keep you mindful of how your body functions and keep you keyed into what else you can do to stay healthy.

Get Enough Sleep

Make sleep a priority by keeping the same sleep schedule on the weekdays and weekends. You’ll want to wake up and go to sleep around the same time every day. A general rule of thumb is to aim to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Anything less than that can compound and lead to several physical and mental problems, including but not limited to diabetes, hypertension, anxiety, and depression.

Nourish Your Body

You want to ensure that you feed your body with the best possible nutrients to help it function. Think of a lot of colorful fruits and vegetables. These will be filled with lots of fiber and antioxidants. While the antioxidants will reduce inflammation, the fiber will help your digestive tract run like it’s supposed to. Don’t skimp on protein and even some carbohydrates like rice or pasta. Having a well-balanced diet makes for a well-balanced body.

Most importantly, don’t restrict yourself. You may have eaten more than you usually do, but that’s no excuse to hurt yourself. Don’t let guilt control you. Instead, listen to your body, be mindful while eating, and put the fork down when you’re feeling satisfied.