How to Reset Through the Holidays

The holidays are magical—a time for family, connection, traditions, and yes… plenty of food and drink. For many women, though, this season comes with a side dish of stress: What if I overdo it? What if I gain weight? What if I feel sluggish, bloated, and guilty by January?

Let me pause and reassure you: enjoying your favorite holiday foods doesn’t make you weak, unhealthy, or a failure. It makes you human. Food is part of celebration, culture, and connection. And guess what? You deserve to enjoy it without beating yourself up.

But here’s the flip side—you also don’t want indulgence to snowball into feeling miserable, stuck, or like you’re starting the new year 10 pounds heavier. The key? Building in gentle resets along the way.

This blog will walk you through how to enjoy the season guilt-free and set yourself up for a strong, balanced start to the new year.

Why Women Struggle Most During the Holidays

For women in our perimenopause era and beyond, this season can hit especially hard. Hormones already affect how your body processes sugar, handles stress, and stores fat. Add in holiday desserts, late nights, and endless events, and suddenly:

Bloating feels worse.
Sleep takes a hit.
Sugar cravings spiral out of control.
Mood and energy dip lower than the twinkling lights on the tree.

It’s no wonder January feels like climbing uphill in the snow. But with a reset approach, you don’t have to wait for January to feel better—you can keep coming back to balance all season long.

Step One: Release the Guilt

First things first: ditch the all-or-nothing mindset. One slice of pie won’t ruin your health, just like one salad won’t make you instantly well. What matters most is consistency over time, not perfection in the moment.

Here’s your permission slip:

Enjoy your favorite foods without shame. That cookie baked from your grandma’s recipe isn’t “bad”—it’s a memory in a bite.
Notice your body’s cues instead of defaulting to guilt. Do you feel satisfied? Overfull? Energized? Foggy? Let curiosity guide you instead of criticism.
Remember balance. You’re not aiming for restriction, but you’re also not surrendering to a free-for-all.

Guilt drains energy. Grace restores it.

Step Two: Hydration Is Your Secret Weapon

Between salty foods, alcohol, and extra sugar, your body is constantly fighting dehydration during the holidays. Dehydration shows up as fatigue, brain fog, and yes—feeling hungrier than you really are.

Your reset habit:

Drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water each day.
Start your morning with a big glass of water before coffee.
Alternate every alcoholic or sugary drink with a glass of water.

Studies show even mild dehydration can impair mood, focus, and energy. Staying hydrated isn’t just about flushing toxins—it’s about helping your body cope with extra indulgence.

Step Three: Movement That Feels Good

It’s easy to let workouts slide when your calendar fills with events, travel, or family gatherings. But movement doesn’t have to mean an hour-long workout at the gym. Short, consistent activity keeps your metabolism firing and your mood steady.

Your reset habit:

Take a 10–15 minute walk after meals to help digestion and blood sugar balance.
Choose festive movement: dance to Christmas music while cleaning, or ice skate with your kids.
Keep it simple: stretch before bed, squat while folding laundry, calf raises while brushing, or do a quick bodyweight workout at home.

Studies show that even moderate activity significantly reduces bloating, improves digestion, and helps regulate stress hormones.

Step Four: Choose Whole Foods Between Celebrations

The holidays often stack indulgent meals back-to-back. Your body will thank you if you reset between parties with nutrient-dense, whole food choices.

Your reset habit:

Focus on protein and fiber at every meal to steady blood sugar and curb cravings.
Fill your plate with colorful vegetables for antioxidants and digestion support.
Keep healthy snacks—nuts, fruit, boiled eggs—on hand so you’re not grabbing leftover cookies when hunger strikes.
Remove the sugary treats from easy reach. Fill your cabinets with nuts and, protein powders to remind you to choose that first. Push the pies and pastries to the back of the fridge, and move chopped up veggies and fruit at the forefront.

Think of it as balance: enjoy the stuffing on Christmas Eve, then gift your body a big colorful salad on Christmas Day.

Step Five: Protect Your Sleep

Late nights, travel, and sugar overload can wreck sleep—and poor sleep makes cravings, weight gain, and mood swings and wrinkles worse! In fact, studies show sleep deprivation increases hunger hormones (ghrelin) while reducing satiety hormones (leptin). Translation? You eat more and feel less satisfied. UGH!

Your reset habit:

Aim for 7–8 hours most nights.
Keep a wind-down routine: dim lights, diffuse calming oils, and unplug from screens.
Protect at least 2–3 nights a week where you prioritize rest.

Sleep is not lazy—it’s the foundation of hormone balance, energy, and resilience.

Step Six: Reset After, Not Just Before

One of the biggest mistakes women make is thinking they’ll “just deal with it in January.” The problem? Waiting too long makes it harder to recover.

Instead, build in mini resets throughout the season:

After a big meal, go for a walk, hydrate, and add extra veggies to your next plate.
After a weekend of parties, schedule a couple days of lighter, whole-food meals.
Before and after the holidays wrap up, consider a guided reset (like my 14-DAY RESET) to help your body and mind clear the slate.

These little course corrections keep indulgence from turning into exhaustion, guilt, or extra weight.

A Reset Isn’t Punishment—It’s a Gift

Resetting isn’t about punishing yourself for what you ate. It’s about supporting your body so you can enjoy the holidays and feel good in the process. Think of it as a gift you give yourself: energy, balance, and peace of mind.

So yes, eat the pie. Enjoy the hot cocoa. Laugh at the table and savor the memories. Just don’t forget to reset along the way. Because you deserve to start January feeling clear, light, and strong—not stuck in the cycle of guilt and “starting over.”

What's Next?

If you’re ready to feel lighter, clearer, and more in control before January even arrives, I’ve got something special for you. Take a sneak peek into my 14-Day Reset and see how simple daily habits—hydration, movement, and whole foods—can shift everything.

👉 Consider starting today so you can step into the holidays (and the new year) feeling balanced and strong.

Subscribe for Updates

Yes Please!