Pump up your energy levels so that you can continue to enjoy your holiday and have a great time on New Year’s Eve. (Thinkstock by Getty Images)

Pump up your energy levels so that you can continue to enjoy your holiday and have a great time on New Year’s Eve. (Thinkstock by Getty Images)

Christmas dinner was delicious and your gifts were a great success, but now, you’re one tired elf. Here are a few quick ways (each backed by solid research) to pump up your energy levels so that you can continue to enjoy the holiday season and have a great time on New Year’s Eve.

l. Drink Up! Forget the energy drinks. (They just add extra calories.) Stick with good, old H2O. Even mild dehydration — like that caused by a little too much red wine at Christmas dinner — can leave you feeling sluggish. Sipping eight, 8-ounce glasses of water throughout the day is a good rule of thumb to follow. Jazz it up with a few slices of cucumber, orange and lime.

Or, go green. Juice your favorite mix of leafy greens (kale or spinach, spiced with a little lemon or ginger), or enjoy hot or iced green tea.

2. Munch this. Mix equal parts of raw almonds, walnuts (or your favorite nut) with bite-size pieces of dark chocolate, and goji berries (available at the health food store). Have a handful of the mix throughout the day. Tuck it into your purse for quick pick-me-ups during an evening out. For an extra boost, enjoy the snack mix with a piece of fruit — all are proven natural sources of energy.

3. Take a stroll. You may still be away from home or cooling your heels in an airport, so time may be short for your usual workout. No matter where you are, step outside and take a brisk walk around the block — 15 minutes should do the trick. The fresh air and the burst of exercise will work together to quickly raise your energy level. (Also see, “Don’t Wait for Jan. 1. Roll Out Your Better Body Plan Now!”)

About Fierce Fridays — Tips for Weekend Well-Being

We each cherish those precious days off at the end of the week, but increasingly those of us who are charter members of the sisterhood of the stressed and overworked are losing our Saturday and Sunday leisure time to weekend work and domestic duties.

 

To make sure that you do something every weekend that’s just for you, we’ll be sharing a little advice to make those 48 hours a great time to recharge your batteries, bring a little good news into your life, or discover a quick and easy way to improve your health.