How to Enjoy The Silly Season Without Feeling Washed Out

December is meant to feel fun, but most people feel the exact opposite. Between end-of-year deadlines, school events, Christmas parties, extra eating, extra drinking and broken routines, the body can start feeling overloaded.

You don’t need a detox, a cleanse or a strict December diet plan to stay on track. A few simple habits can take a lot of pressure off your gut, liver, nervous system, energy reserves and sleep — even when the month feels chaotic.

The tips below are the same ones I lean on and recommend in clinic every year. They’re simple, realistic and easy to fit into a month that already feels full.

Stop December From Messing With Your Digestion

December pushes the digestive system harder than usual — bigger meals, more sugar, more alcohol, late eating and less routine. When your stomach is overloaded or under-prepared, that’s when bloating, gas, reflux and uncomfortable fullness show up.

Eat slower than you think you need to

Digestion starts in the mouth. Slowing down and chewing for longer gives your stomach time to produce the acid and enzymes it needs to break food down properly. It also helps switch your body into its “rest and digest” mode so meals feel lighter and less likely to cause discomfort. This reduces bloating, improves nutrient absorption and stops that “brick in the stomach” feeling after meals.

Add something bitter before meals

Bitter foods act like a digestive spark plug. Lemon, rocket, ginger or a splash of apple cider vinegar can help your body switch on stomach acid, digestive enzymes and bile flow. This means food breaks down more efficiently, you get less gas and heaviness, and fats break down more easily.

If you want something a bit stronger, herbal bitters work extremely well. Digestive Support contains a blend of herbs that stimulate stomach acid, pancreatic enzymes and bile — helping ease bloating, gas, slow digestion and that uncomfortable post-meal fullness.

Don’t lie down straight after meals

Lying flat can push stomach contents upward, making reflux more likely. Staying upright for at least an hour reduces pressure on the oesophageal sphincter and helps the stomach empty properly.

If reflux flares up, a cup of chamomile tea can help settle the acid burn and discomfort. If that’s not enough, our Stomach Support tonic contains herbs that help calm stomach irritation, support healthy acid balance and ease that burning, uncomfortable feeling. And if you need extra guidance, you can download our free, practical reflux guide here: Free Reflux Treatment Guide.

Drink water away from meals, not with them

Too much water with food can dilute stomach acid. When acid is weak, food doesn’t break down properly, which can lead to bloating, fermentation, gas and poor nutrient absorption. Keeping most of your water between meals makes digestion easier on your stomach.

Helping The Liver Cope With Those Endless Parties

December puts extra load on your liver — more alcohol, more sugar, richer food and late nights. You don’t need a strict cleanse, but giving your liver a little help reduces bloating, heaviness, sluggishness and that “that washed-out, slow-the-next-day feeling.”

Include at least one liver-supporting food each day

Foods like beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, lemons, garlic, ginger, turmeric, spinach and leafy greens help your liver break down fats, process toxins and keep bile flowing. Red and purple foods — such as blueberries, blackberries, cherries, plums and red grapes — are rich in antioxidants that protect liver cells while they’re working harder in December. Fresh herbs like parsley, coriander, dill, mint and basil also give an extra boost. Even one serving of these foods a day can make a noticeable difference in how heavy or sluggish you feel after meals.

If you already use blends like Antioxidant Support or Green Cleanse, their plant-based nutrients and compounds work alongside these foods to keep your liver supported during busier periods.

Try the “one-for-one” rule when drinking

One alcoholic drink followed by one glass of water. It helps your liver clear alcohol more easily, keeps you hydrated and reduces the next-day fogginess that comes from dehydration.

Staying hydrated through the day (not just when drinking) also helps thin bile, which makes fat digestion easier and takes pressure off the liver. Good hydration also supports your kidneys, helping them flush out waste more effectively so the liver isn’t left doing all the heavy lifting on its own.

Eat something before drinking

Having food in your stomach slows down alcohol absorption, which means less sudden strain on your liver and you’re less likely to feel the full effects of the alcohol later in the night.

Keep dinners lighter when you can

Rich, heavy foods slow digestion and place extra pressure on bile production. Balancing big lunches or heavy meals with something simple — soup, eggs, salad or grilled fish — helps your digestion work more efficiently and prevents that heavy evening slump.

If you already lean on liver-supporting herbal blends, December is the time they earn their keep. Tonics such as Liver Stress or Liver Detox can offer gentle support while your liver is working harder, and the simple tips above help share the day-to-day load.

Avoiding Sugar Crashes, Foggy Head and Late-Night Cravings

Sugar and refined carbs are everywhere in December — pavlova, rum balls, chocolates, lollies, biscuits, soft drink, alcohol, chips and party food. When you’re eating or drinking more of these than usual, your blood sugar rises quickly and then drops just as fast, which is where the problems start.

Big sugar swings can lead to:

• Mid-afternoon crashes and fatigue
• Irritability or a short fuse
• Brain fog or feeling “spaced out”
• Constant hunger or sugar hunting
• Waking suddenly during the night when blood sugar drops and the body releases adrenaline — often felt as a racing heart or a jolt of anxiety
• Poor sleep quality from nighttime sugar fluctuations
• Gas, bloating and fermentation in the gut
• A disrupted microbiome (too much sugar feeds the wrong bugs)
• Heavier meals feeling harder to digest
• Increasing the long-term risk of insulin resistance, which is a key step toward type 2 diabetes

These simple habits help stop the highs and lows:

Pair your treats with protein or healthy fats

Protein and fats slow down how quickly sugar hits your bloodstream, which means fewer spikes and fewer crashes.

Easy pairings:

• Fruit with nuts
• Chocolate with a few seeds or nuts
• Biscuits with cheese
• Crackers with avocado or hummus

This helps you feel more satisfied and less likely to keep grazing through the whole table.

Eat regular meals

Skipping meals sets you up for stronger cravings and bigger binge-eat moments later in the day. Keeping a simple routine — even if it’s just breakfast and lunch at roughly the same time — keeps your blood sugar more even, reduces overeating and helps stop the “starving to stuffed” cycle.

Go for a short walk after bigger meals

Even 10 minutes of walking helps your muscles use up circulating sugar, which lowers the spike after meals. It also encourages the stomach and intestines to keep things moving, reducing bloating and helping food break down more effectively.

Extra blood-sugar support can make December easier

Herbal and nutritional blends can offer gentle help when you’re eating more sugar than usual. BSL Balance supports healthy blood sugar levels and carbohydrate metabolism, while products like MagExcel and ZSIM help top up key minerals your body uses to process carbohydrates, stabilise energy and keep blood sugar on a more even keel.

Keeping Stress Under Control When December To-Do’s Start Piling Up

December ramps up pressure for most people — work deadlines, family events, late nights, extra spending, more alcohol and less routine. When stress builds up, the nervous system stays “switched on”, which can lead to muscle tightness, poor sleep, irritability, anxiety, sugar cravings and that burnt-out feeling before the month even ends.

Use the “2-minute reset”

This simple breathing pattern quickly calms the nervous system. Sit comfortably, breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, then breathe out slowly for 6–8 seconds. Repeat 4–6 times.

Deep nasal breathing helps reduce the release of adrenaline and cortisol, easing that wired, overstimulated feeling and shifting the body out of “fight or flight”. You can do it anywhere — in the car, at your desk, first thing in the morniing or before bed.

Keep caffeine earlier in the day

Caffeine stimulates adrenaline, which is the last thing you need in a high-stress month. It also blocks adenosine — the chemical that makes you feel sleepy — so coffee after 1pm can keep your nervous system revved up for hours. Keeping caffeine to the morning makes falling asleep easier and reduces that wired-but-exhausted state at night.

Keep some evenings simple

Not every night can be a late dinner, party or big event. Giving yourself even one or two quiet evenings each week helps your stress hormones settle, lets your nervous system switch out of “go” mode and gives your body the downtime it needs to reset and recharge properly.

Move your body when you feel overwhelmed

Movement burns off stress hormones quickly. Even 10 minutes around the block helps clear the head, loosen tight muscles and break that overwhelmed, pent-up feeling. It doesn’t have to be a workout — just enough movement to let your body release tension and reset.

Herbal and nutritional support when stress starts stacking up

When stress hormones stay elevated, the nervous system works overtime. That’s why so many people feel wired, restless and mentally overrun by the time Christmas arrives. The right herbs and nutrients can help the body shift out of that constant “switched-on” mode to a more relaxed and calm state.

Cortisol Calm is the blend I reach for in clinic when someone feels the direct effects of stress — racing thoughts, anxious tension, irritability, poor sleep and that “I can’t switch off” feeling. The herbs in this tonic have a long history of use for supporting a healthy stress response and helping the body ease back towards balance.

For people who feel wrung out or mentally drained after long periods of stress, N.S. Balance focuses more on the recovery side of the nervous system — helping it settle, rebuild and function more smoothly over time.

Your body also burns through key nutrients at a rapid rate when you’re under stress, especially magnesium and B-vitamins. Replacing what stress uses up helps your nerves fire more evenly and prevents over-reactivity. A combination of MagExcel and B-Complete is often enough to top up those reserves and support more stable energy and mood.

Sleep Makes Everything Better

Good sleep resets almost everything — mood, appetite, digestion, adrenal glands, stress tolerance and energy. When we cheat on sleep, everything else feels harder, and December tends to magnify the problem. A few small tweaks can make a big difference to how easily you switch off at night.

Avoid screens for 30 minutes before bed

Phones, tablets and TVs keep the brain alert and suppress melatonin — the hormone that signals your body it’s time to sleep. Swapping screens for reading, stretching or quiet time helps your nervous system wind down properly.

Dim the lights in the evening

Bright, cool-toned lights send a “stay awake” signal to the brain. Switching to dimmer, warmer lighting in the evening helps your body move into its natural pre-sleep rhythm so you don’t hit bed feeling wired and awake.

Eat your last meal 2–3 hours before sleep

Going to bed with a full stomach can trigger reflux, restlessness, extra body heat and general discomfort that makes it hard to fall asleep. Giving your digestion a couple of hours’ head start makes it easier to drift off and stay comfortable through the night.

Keep your bedroom cool

Your core temperature needs to drop slightly to fall asleep. A cooler room helps your body make that shift more easily by reducing restlessness, lowering excess body heat and signalling the brain that it’s time to switch into sleep mode. This helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep more consistently through the night.

When extra support can make sleep easier

Some people find December ramps up the things that disrupt sleep — a busy mind in the evenings, higher stress hormones and lower magnesium levels from extra sugar, alcohol or stress. Certain herbs and nutrients can help settle these patterns so your body can switch into sleep mode more easily.

Sleep Support is our main herbal blend for a good night’s sleep. It contains calming, relaxing and gently sedating herbs that help quieten a busy mind, ease physical tension and support the body into a deeper, more settled sleep state.

If your brain stays switched on at night, elevated adrenaline and cortisol are often behind it. As mentioned above, Cortisol Calm can be useful here, helping the body wind down from that wired, go-go-go feeling so you’re not trying to sleep while stress signals are still active.

Low magnesium is another common reason people struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep. A quality magnesium such as MagExcel provides highly absorbable forms that help relax muscles and nerves, making it easier for the body to settle at night.

Gentle movement is your best friend in December

You don’t need long workouts — small, consistent movement has a bigger impact on how you feel than the occasional big session. December is busy, and the body copes far better when you keep it moving a little each day.

Gentle activity boosts circulation, helps clear stress hormones, supports digestion and bowel movements, and stops that sluggish, heavy feeling that builds up after big meals or long periods of sitting. It’s one of the simplest ways to keep your system steady when the month gets chaotic.

Easy options include:

• A 10–20 minute walk
• Light stretching while watching TV
• A swim at the beach, river or local pool
• A few simple bodyweight exercises in the lounge room

Regular movement also helps regulate blood sugar, balance your mood and keep your energy more stable through the day. Even short bursts make a noticeable difference — it’s less about intensity and more about giving your body the chance to reset.

The Simplest December Rule: Don’t Aim For Perfect

Trying to eat or live “perfectly” in December usually backfires. It creates stress, guilt and the classic restrict–binge cycle. The real aim is balance — supporting your body while still enjoying the parts of the season that matter to you.

Focus on:

• Eating well most of the time
• Enjoying the treats you genuinely like, not everything in sight
• Giving your body extra support when it needs it
• Keeping stress manageable
• Protecting your sleep as best you can

Small daily habits make the biggest difference — far more than any strict diet, cleanse or “start again in January” mindset.

If you’re already using NatroVital tonics and supplements, December is a good month to keep them in your routine alongside the simple food, movement and stress habits above. If you’re new to herbal tonics and want to explore what’s available, you can browse the full range here: NatroVital Herbal Tonics.