Twixmas is a strange time, isn’t it? One moment you’re chilling on the sofa, unaware of what day it is, and the next, you’re being asked what your new year’s resolutions are and whether you’ll be taking part in Dry January. Before you know it, it’s 2 January, you’re back at work and those halcyon days spent lazing around the house and eating your body weight in chocolate are but a distant memory.

The good news is that you’re not quite there yet – and there are some simple things you can do before the new year really does get into full swing to supercharge your wellbeing. 

While it’s easy to feel a little sluggish after all the fun of Christmas, taking just a few steps to recharge and reset will put you in much better stead to take the new year in your stride. So, with the help of the experts, we’ve put together this guide to nine things you can do right now to help boost your energy levels before 2025 begins. 

One of the best things you can do to support your body’s natural energy levels is to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. While your sleep schedule might have gone out of the window a little bit over the Christmas break, now’s the time to put that schedule back in place in order to really feel the benefits in the new year.

The key, as sleep physiologist Stephanie Romiszewski previously told Strong Women, is making sure you wake up at the same time every day. You might not be able to control when you fall asleep at night but getting out of bed at the same time every day can help to regulate your body’s circadian rhythm, which controls fluctuations of the sleep hormone melatonin and the stress hormone cortisol.

“Your body needs a goalpost to understand when to start the day,” Romiszewski explained. “If you keep shifting that then the body physiologically can’t do all the things that you want it to during the day at consistent timings.”

It’s for this reason that following a consistent sleep schedule can have a positive impact on everything from your energy levels to your gut health. 

Over Christmas, you might have found yourself eating a lot of less-than-healthy fats. And while that’s fine in moderation – it’s Christmas, after all – now’s the time to start thinking about giving your body what it really needs.

For energy, Alison Cullen, a nutritional practitioner and sleep expert at Avogel, recommends focusing on your healthy fat intake.

“Healthy fats are very important for energy production,” she says. “Foods such as walnuts, avocados, oily fish, flaxseed and pumpkin seeds all contain healthy fats that contribute to better energy, skin, brain function and hormone balance.”

Of course, you should also focus on eating a well-rounded diet full of fibre, protein and carbohydrates, as these will also help to support your energy levels in both the short and long term. 

While lying on the sofa can certainly be restorative, setting aside some time to give your body the chance to truly rest and recover is a good idea for your energy levels.

Non-sleep deep rest – a form of guided meditation similar to yoga nidra or yogic sleep – is one way to do just that. It involves specific breathing techniques which help your body to enter into a deep state of relaxation, so your parasympathetic nervous system (also known as the ‘rest and digest’ side of your nervous system) is activated.

And the best bit? You don’t need any special equipment to practise non-sleep deep rest – just a comfy, quiet space where you can lie down and switch off. There are plenty of non-sleep deep rest tracks available on YouTube for you to listen to; you can check out our guide to non-sleep deep rest to learn more about what to expect. 

Everyone gets their energy from different places, so while watching TV or reading a book might work for one person, another might find those things simply keep them entertained and don’t actually help them relax and unwind.

As Jessica Stephenson-Clarke, a certified life coach and master NLP practitioner for Avra Wellness, previously told Strong Women: “I’d recommend finding what rest really looks like for you. That could be reading a book, going for a long walk or meeting up with a close friend. If you’re struggling, try asking yourself: ‘What always makes me feel more creative and energetic after I’ve done it?’”

Once you’ve worked out exactly what you need, why not set aside an hour over the next couple of days to try it out? You can also schedule some time over the next couple of weeks to make your restorative activity part of your routine in 2025. 

When was the last time you had a glass of water? It’s easy to forget amid all the chaos of Christmas, but staying hydrated is a really simple thing you can do to support your energy levels. It’s especially important when you’re drinking alcohol due to its diuretic effect; the fluid loss can leave you dehydrated before you even realise it.

“Dehydration can lead to symptoms such as headaches, dizziness and fatigue, and it can impair physical and cognitive performance,” explains James Vickers, registered nutritionist at Vitality Health Insurance.

The good news is that rehydrating isn’t rocket science. Grabbing a glass of water should be your first port of call, and if you’ve been sweating a lot, then adding an electrolyte tablet or making your own electrolytes at home (a pinch of salt in coconut water does the trick) can give you a boost. 

Your mindset can have a big impact on your energy levels, so setting aside some time to reflect on the things you’re grateful for can be an effective way to help yourself adopt a more optimistic mindset – which in turn can help you feel more energised.

“Gratitude has been shown to activate the brain’s reward system, which is associated with feelings of satisfaction and emotional regulation,” says Dr Ritika Suk Birah, a consultant counselling psychologist and founder of the online journaling service Reflect With Dr Ritz. “Try to write down the moments you’ve appreciated in 2024, whether big or small. Reflect on why they were meaningful and how they shaped your year.”

She continues: “This practice helps you to close the year with a sense of accomplishment and prepare yourself to enter January with clarity and optimism.” 

If you want to give your energy levels an instant-boost, movement is the way to go. Want to make running part of your routine in 2025? Getting outside for a jog will not only boost your energy levels but help you to get into the swing of things with zero pressure.

And if you’re not feeling in the mood for a full-on workout, even some gentle movement will help; you might not feel like it at first, but going on a walk or doing some low-intensity exercise like yoga or pilates will make a real difference.

Why? It’s all to do with the way movement impacts our circulation. As Daniel Herman, founder and CEO at the supplements brand Bio-Synergy, previously told Strong Women: “Exercise increases blood circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells which can improve alertness and reduce feelings of fatigue,” he says. “Additionally, exercise prompts the release of endorphins – natural mood elevators – providing a quick energy and mood lift.”

Getting outside for a walk when the sun is shining can add to these benefits, as the sunlight exposure can help to regulate that all-important circadian rhythm.  

Images: Getty