Holiday Habits & Your Body

Total Health Chiropractic
Dec 18, 2025
3 min read

The holiday season is supposed to feel joyful, but many people notice that their energy drops as December goes on. Your body feels heavier, your sleep becomes lighter and your mind feels more drained than usual. This does not happen by chance. The way we eat, sleep and move during this period quietly shapes how our body responds.

Here are some common holiday habits that can leave your body feeling more tired and how they affect you.

Changes to your sleep routine

Holiday gatherings often stretch late into the night. At the same time, early mornings continue because there is still shopping to do, travel to catch or errands to run. When your bedtime and wake time shift around too much, your internal clock becomes confused. This makes it harder for your brain and body to rest properly, which is why you may wake up feeling foggy or unrested even after many hours of sleep.

Alcohol and heavy meals can also make sleep shallower. Alcohol may help you fall asleep quickly, but your sleep becomes more fragmented and less restorative. Heavy meals close to bedtime keep your body busy digesting, which makes it harder to settle into deeper stages of sleep. As a result, you wake up feeling tired even if you slept long enough.

Eating and drinking more than your body expects

Food is a big part of December and it is normal to enjoy it. But when we skip meals to prepare for a big dinner or go long hours without eating, blood sugar levels drop and energy crashes. This often leads to overeating later, which can cause bloating, discomfort and a strong feeling of fatigue.

Treats are also more common this time of year. When almost every day includes something rich, sweet or heavy, your digestive system works overtime. These foods take longer to process, pulling blood flow toward your stomach and away from other areas. This is why people feel sleepy after a large festive meal.

Alcohol adds another layer. It pulls water from your body, leading to dehydration. When you are dehydrated, you may feel headaches, sluggishness and poor concentration, all of which contribute to overall fatigue.

Too Little Movement

Many people unintentionally become more sedentary in December. There are long meals, long conversations, more screen time and more indoor activities. Even something enjoyable like a movie marathon can leave your body feeling stiff because you have been sitting in the same position for hours.

Less outdoor time also means less sunlight, and sunlight plays an important role in regulating mood and energy. When sunlight decreases, some people feel more tired, unmotivated or emotionally flat. Without regular movement, circulation slows, muscles tighten and your energy naturally dips.

Taking on more than your body can handle

December can be emotionally full. There is a desire to make holidays meaningful and special for loved ones. This often leads to late-night preparations, planning gatherings, buying gifts, cooking meals and saying yes to every invitation.

Trying to manage everything at once increases your stress hormones. When stress stays elevated for too long, your mind and body begin to feel the strain. You may feel irritable, overwhelmed or unusually tired even if you have not done anything physically strenuous.

Overcommitting also means there is little time left for rest. Self-care gets pushed aside and simple pauses that help your body recover become rare.

A kinder approach to the holiday season

Feeling tired in December does not mean you are weak or unfit. It simply means your body is responding to a month filled with changes. A few small adjustments can make the season feel lighter.