Stuffing yourself like a Christmas turkey is a long-held tradition – along with loosening your belt and groaning from indigestion. "At Christmas, it's about carbohydrates, alcohol and sugar," says Swetlikoff. "Those things produce indigestion because they ferment in the gut." But it's OK to break with this gluttonous tradition. Rather than filling up three times a day, have five small balanced meals and avoid refined carbs and sugary foods. You'll be more energetic and less inclined to overindulge.
6. Balance your chakras
According to ancient Indian yoga practices, chakras are the seven energy centres that run from your brain to your reproductive organs. Here's what you do to balance them: Sit up straight, breathe in through your nose, then out through your mouth. With every exhalation, say "shhhhhh." Do this twice daily for two minutes until the new year and your system will be recharged. "The negative pictures in your mind stop and your feelings will calm down," says Marentette. "Your energy flows freely, it revitalizes the chakras and you feel pretty terrific."
7. Stay active – even indoors
The hours of sunlight are shorter and with hectic schedules, it's even tougher to be active. But don't let the season get in your way, says Dr. Joey Shulman, a Toronto-based chiropractic doctor and author of The Natural Makeover Diet: A 4-Step Program to Looking and Feeling Your Best from the Inside Out (John Wiley and Sons, 2005, $21.99).
"I am a very big advocate of the basics – five- and 10-pound weights, an exercise ball and a mat. It doesn't matter if you work out in front of the TV or in your bedroom – just do it." By exercising for at least 20 minutes four days a week, you will boost your immune system, aid digestion, sleep better and feel energized, says Shulman.
8. Do what you enjoy
"The most stressful thing about Christmas is doing too much in too little time, and forgetting what Christmas is really about," observes Michele Caron, a life coach in Coldwater, Ont. Instead of trying to please everyone, sit down with a calendar and make a list, itemizing those things you really enjoy and scheduling time to do them. Or start a journal recounting this year's highlights and what you'd like to achieve in the months to come. By the time 2008's resolutions roll around, you'll be ready for them.
Page 2 of 3
