Stop Christmas Turning Into a Wellness Write-Off

Siobhan O'Neill
Dec 2
2 min read

Let’s be honest: December can feel like a chaotic blur of food, events, late nights, and routine-breaking. And a lot of people fall into the trap of thinking:

“I’ll just start again in January.”

But here’s the good news: staying healthy over Christmas doesn’t require perfection, just a few tiny non-negotiables.

These 5-minute habits keep your body feeling energised, your mood stable, and your January self very grateful and stop Christmas turning into a wellness write-off!

🥚 1. Start the Day With Protein

Instead of diving straight into toast, pastries, or leftover chocolates, start with 20–30g of protein.

Why?

Keeps you fuller for longer
Reduces cravings later in the day
Supports muscle repair, especially if you’re training

What this looks like;

250-350g Greek yoghurt (can do 0%, I do a mix) mixed with frozen mixed berries heated with honey.
Protein shake with a banana, yoghurt, strawberries, protein powder, milled flax seed and some kind of nut butter if you're hungry.
Eggs and scallions scrambled with turkey sausages and wholemeal toast (and some Ballymaloe relish if youre feeling fancy)
High-protein overnight oats; 50g oats, 30g protein powder, 100ml yoghurt, 15g flaxseed, raspberries and cashew nut butter to garnish.
Cottage Cheese Pancakes (these are DELICIOUS and easy to make!);

Stop Christmas Turning Into a Wellness Write-Off Recipe — Cottage Cheese Pancakes Recipe

💧 2. Drink Your First Glass of Water Before Coffee

Hydration affects:

Energy
Digestion
Headaches
Cravings
Performance

So before hitting caffeine, drink at least one full glass of water. It’s a tiny habit with a big payoff. Add electrolytes as well if you're drinking alcohol to help rebalance. I love Optimum Nutirion electrolytes and they now stock them in Dunnes Stores!

🚶‍♀️ 3. Do a 10-Minute Walk Every Day

No workout motivation? No problem, just walk.

It improves:

Metabolism
Digestion
Blood sugar control
Stress levels

Bonus: if you can walk right after a meal, especially Christmas dinners, even better for energy and mood.

🍽️ 4. Have One Balanced Meal a Day

No rules, no restrictions , just one meal that includes:

Protein
Colourful veg
Healthy fats
A serving of carbs

Your body will thank you, and it helps stop the “holiday free-for-all” feeling. This for me is best done at lunch, that way if I'm out for dinner I know I've hit a decent meal with lots of fibre, protein and veggies and I'm not going in starving and primed to go crazy.