The 5️⃣ Most Overlooked Health Foundations to Revisit Before January
The week between Christmas and New Year’s often feels like a strange in-between space, doesn’t it?
Schedules are off and so are routines. Energy is all over the place. And many people feel this unspoken pressure of the new year looming and feeling the need to “reset” or “start over.”
I’d like to offer some gentle advice as a nurse and wellness coach who has been working with clients for over 15 years:
You don’t need to be thinking about a full overhaul right now. What would serve you better is a return to the foundations that support your body, nervous system, and energy, especially after a demanding year.
These are the five most overlooked health foundations I’m encouraging clients to gently revisit this week.
1️⃣ Sleep Timing
This week isn’t about perfect sleep; it’s about consistent timing.
Going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time helps:
• Regulate hormones
• Stabilize mood
• Reduce inflammation
• Make January transitions easier
If nothing else, choose a reasonable bedtime and morning anchor and stick to it. You can move it up an hour earlier starting next week.
2️⃣ Blood Sugar Basics
Holiday eating and drinking can cause erratic blood sugar levels, which can affect everything from your energy to your mood.
A few simple supports:
• Include protein and/or complex carbohydrates with every meal
• Pair refined carbs with protein, fiber, or healthy fats to slow absorption
• Don’t skip meals to “make up” for others
This alone can reduce fatigue, irritability, cravings, and anxiety.
3️⃣ Hydration
Dehydration is often the hidden culprit behind fatigue, headaches, brain fog, and cravings.
Aim for:
• Steady hydration throughout the day
• At least 64 oz. of water every day, which is 8 glasses
• Eating soups and other hydrating foods like fruit (yes, they count!)
Your brain, digestion, and nervous system function better when your cells are hydrated.
4️⃣ Gentle Movement
Please don’t punish yourself with aggressive workouts or “earning” food. It usually backfires, trust me.
Instead:
• Go for consistent walks
• Do some gentle strength training or mobility work
• Throw in some movement that feels regulating, not depleting, like light stretching
Movement is most effective when it’s performed daily and supports recovery, not when it creates more stress.
5️⃣ Nervous System Regulation
🌟 This is the foundation beneath all the others.
Even one of these practiced each day can help:
• Slow breathing
• Morning sunlight
• Moments of stillness
• Reducing unnecessary stimulation, like notifications on your phone
A regulated nervous system improves digestion, sleep, hormones, immunity, and emotional resilience.
Why This Week Matters
The last week of the year isn’t a throwaway week.
How you care for yourself now shapes:
• How your body enters the new year
• How sustainable your goals feel
• How regulated your system is when life speeds up again
Small, steady choices now make January gentler. 🫶
Holiday Support (through Dec 31)
If you’d like support making sense of what your body needs right now, I’m offering my 60–90 minute Personalized Wellness Consultations at a holiday rate of $147 (regularly $220).
This is a whole-person deep dive designed to bring clarity, direction, and practical next steps across physical, mental, and emotional health.
✨ Holiday pricing available through Dec 31
✨ Sessions can be booked for anytime in January
✨ Discount is honored as long as the session is booked by Dec 31
If you’d like to enter the new year feeling grounded instead of depleted, I’m here to support you.
👉 Book your session here: Personalized Wellness Consultation
