5 ways to recover from a night out

Happy New Year!!!

Hope you're starting your New Year with love, ambition, and good energy!

I know that can feel hard to do after a night of celebrating so today I thought I would share some of the things that help me recover from a night out and get back into it.

1. REST

Probably don't need to tell you this but yes, if you haven't gotten enough sleep, a very simple solution is just to take the day off to sleep a little longer and help your body make up the rest.

Maybe skip the gym today, try yoga instead or go for a walk (the outdoors is always the best cure!). It will help relax your mind and still get your blood flow going. If you are able to work up a sweat a little, it will also help your body detox.

Also be sure to rest your voice if your throat sounds hoarse, dry or painful.

ProTip: if you're trying to make an earlier bedtime a new years resolution but have trouble falling asleep early, take advantage of how tired you are! Avoid sleeping in until the day is almost over - instead, force yourself to wake up before noon so you are still tired enough to fall asleep early that night. You'll sleep schedule will adjust slowly but surely.

2. HYDRATE YOSELF

Drink, drink, drink water. Did you know hangover headaches are actually just a result of not enough water getting to your brain? Even if you haven't been drinking alcohol, you've probably been moving around and exerting energy. Replenish yourself with good old H2O.

Drinking water should be the first thing you do when you wake up - even if you go back to bed after. If you're walking around or leave the house, carry a bottle of water with you and sip as you go.

3. MAKE YOURSELF A SMOOTHIE

It may be hard to work up an appetite the next day but you do need food. Something easily digestible like a smoothie or soup may be easier to keep down (plus its hydrating). I prefer a smoothie because I like how refreshing it is and the energy boost it gives me.

Additionally, if you've been drinking alcohol, your body will have lost vitamins and minerals and a smoothie is a great natural way to restore that with some good fresh fruit. Add a banana and greens to your smoothie to help your digestion.

4. DRINK HERBAL TEA

Herbal teas really do calm and soothe the mind body and soul. They are good for headaches and are also a great way to naturally detox and ease indigestion. Try chamomille, mint, green tea, ginger or fennel and replace the sugar with honey (this also helps your voice recover).

(I don't recommend drinking tea on an empty stomach though; I'll usually do this after lunch or later that night.)

5. LOOK AT PICTURES FROM THE NIGHT BEFORE

Sometimes, the recovery can be so bad it makes you regret having fun in the first place. Remind yourself you had a good time making memories and that its okay to let loose once in a while! As long as you make the time to take care of yourself and don't overuse your body, there's no reason to make yourself feel worse. There are obviously limits to how far you should go (how much you should drink, how many sleepless nights you should have a week etc) but we should always work to find the balance with these things so that an "unhealthy" night doesn't have to lead to an unhealthy lifestyle or unhealthy life.

If you think you went past your limit, flip it around and think about how you can make better decisions next time so you can have a guilt-free, healthy, good time.