Lately, I’ve been feeling a little bit more tired than I usually do. My stress level is a bit higher, and I have been having trouble sleeping. On top of that, I’ve been sluggish and demotivated, which is really not me.

At first, I explained this shift with the time of the year, combined with a weather change, maybe. After all, what’s more stressful than rushing around in jam packed malls, spending tons of money gifts all for one day? What’s more demotivating than stepping on the scale and seeing a weight gain from all of the holiday treats, or looking outside before a workout and seeing incessant rain?

I was in denial. It wasn’t the time of year that was making me feel so sluggish, it’s my lifestyle and how I’ve been living over the past couple of months.

The holidays, in North American culture, are a time for extreme and gluttonous excess. Excess spending, excess eating, excess drinking. It’s manic, and it can really take it’s toll.

Sure, I had fun, and I’ve very much enjoyed seeing my family and friends, but I am in need of a major detox – of everything.

Diet Detox

As somebody who has always believed in the power of a plant based diet, and worked hard to stay healthy and conscious about what she is eating, the holidays are pure sabotage.

This most certainly also comes from the fact that I have no self control but an excess of eggnog, mashed potatoes, turkey, cheese, stuffing, gravy, cookies, chocolates, and candies.

I wouldn’t be lying if I told you that I ate the equivalent of an entire cheesecake over the period of a week, just in cheesecake squares.

My body is objecting by messing with my sleep schedule and blood sugars, causing me to spike and crash at odd hours of the day.

Cutting Out Alcohol

I am not a day-to-day drinker; in fact, I only have a glass of wine or two when I am with other friends or family members that also drink wine. 

This averages out to be maybe 2 glasses of wine per week, if you account for more then one glass over a longer evening.

During the holidays, I most definitely did consume more than two glasses of wine per week. In fact, I was drinking more than two per night, as well as some rum and eggnogs, mulled wine, and other alcoholic drinks that were wholly unnecessary for my health.

My skin has been breaking out in dry patches (likely due, in part, to the fact that I have incredibly sensitive skin anyway, and alcohol is a dehydrator), I’ve felt bloated and sluggish, and overall not great.

I’m going to do a no drinking January – not even a glass of wine at dinner – to help my body restore it’s ability to properly function on the important things.

Media Detox

I don’t know about you, but it’s around the holidays that I am in front of the television the most. Likely this is because I get a little more time off around the holidays, and with Christmas movies, watching the ball drop, and general vegging out in front of the TV, I feel as if my brain is going to explode.

I am embarrassed to say that I now know a couple of commercials off by heart and can sing an unfortunate corporate jingle that I didn’t know before December 10th.

This has demotivated me big time. The longer I sit in front of the TV, the more I feel that actually being productive isn’t necessary.

Financial Detox

I have not put a dime into my savings accounts for over a month. It’s not just spending on Christmas gifts that drained my wallet so fast; dinners out, entertaining, alcohol, food, small home items (ie a Christmas table cloth, wine glass charms), and general financial indulgences all put a serious hold on my financial goals.

I’m completely exhausted from the flurry activity, so I can’t imagine wanting to go out that often anyway, but January will have to be a serious financial detox month for me.

 

Do you feel the need for a complete detox this time of year, too?