Welcome to 2026. If you are reading this on January 2, there is a good chance you are probably feeling the effects of a very “merry” December.
Between the Christmas lunches where you couldn’t get enough peppermint tart and that New Year’s Eve party where the bubbly flowed a little too freely, your body might be begging for a time-out.
After stepping onto the scale, you might feel the urge to lace up your takkies and run a half-marathon or commit to a punishing juice cleanse.
But before you rush into a gruelling gym routine or set impossible resolutions, take a breath.
Here is how to press the reset button the right way.
Drink more water
Alcohol and salty festive snacks are a recipe for dehydration.
That sluggish, foggy feeling you have is often just your body crying out for water.
Skip the “hair of the dog” and reach for a large glass of water instead.
If plain water feels boring, add some slices of lemon or cucumber.
Aim to keep a bottle with you throughout the day to help flush out the toxins and get your energy levels back on track.
Eat light meals
After weeks of rich food, malva pudding, and heavy meats, your digestive system needs a break.
You do not need to starve yourself to make up for Christmas lunch. Instead, focus on gentle, whole foods.
Think of things like yummy salads, grilled fish, or fresh fruit. Giving your gut a few days of easy-to-digest meals will do wonders for your bloating and overall mood.
Get more sleep
The festive season usually means late nights and disrupted sleep. One of the most effective ways to reset is simply to get back into a consistent sleep routine.
Try to head to bed at a decent hour tonight and keep your room cool and dark.
Quality sleep regulates the hormones that control your hunger, so getting your eight hours will actually help stop those leftover cheesecake cravings.
Move your body
The gyms are always packed in the first week of January. While the enthusiasm is great, jumping into a high-intensity workout when you are dehydrated and tired is a shortcut to injury.
Start with a brisk walk on the beach or a light stroll through your local park.
Getting your blood pumping gently is far more sustainable than burning yourself out before you hit the second week in January.
Start small
The pressure to “new year, new me” is intense. Instead of listing twenty massive life changes, pick two or three small habits you can actually stick to.
Maybe it is eating one green meal a day or committing to ten minutes of stretching every morning.
Small wins build the momentum you need to keep going when the January heat starts to bite.
Lifestyle
