Simplify to Heal: What Your Body Really Needs This December
December is a beautiful but demanding month. Between travel, holiday gatherings, food changes, later nights, disrupted routines, and the pressure to do more, your body often ends up working harder than you realize, especially your hormones, digestion, and nervous system.
This month, instead of adding more to your plate, the goal is simple:
Support your health by doing less, not more.
Your body’s healing processes thrive when routines are predictable, meals are steady, and stress is managed with gentle habits. “Simplify to Heal” is about helping you return to those basics.
Start With What Your Body Needs Most
Functional Medicine always begins with foundations because these habits regulate cortisol, stabilize blood sugar, improve sleep quality, and support digestion.
This December, focus on simplicity:
1. Balanced meals with protein at each one
This stabilizes blood sugar and reduces cravings and stress responses.
2. Regular hydration throughout the day
Especially in cooler weather when thirst drops.
3. Consistent sleep rhythms
Your hormones and nervous system rely heavily on predictable rest.
4. Gentle movement
Even a 10-minute walk after meals supports digestion and blood sugar.
5. Lowering decision fatigue
Repeating simple routines frees your brain and supports your stress response.
These small choices create a foundation your body can rely on, even in busy seasons.
How Stress & Busyness Affect Your Hormones
The holidays elevate cortisol in ways you may not fully feel until January.
Chronic stress can impact:
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Thyroid function
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Estrogen and progesterone balance
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Bloating and digestive discomfort
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Sleep patterns
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Fatigue
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Blood sugar swings
When routines become unpredictable, your hormones lose rhythm, and your body begins prioritizing survival mode over healing.
Simplifying doesn’t just feel good; it directly supports hormone stability.
Simplifying Your Meals
Holiday eating can feel chaotic, but your meals don’t have to be complicated to be supportive.
Try:
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Protein + vegetables + healthy fats at most meals
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Warm, simple foods when digestion feels sluggish
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Keeping snacks consistent
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Avoiding long stretches without food (to prevent cortisol spikes)
This isn’t about restriction. It’s about supporting your body through nourishment.
Supporting Digestion During a Busy Month
Digestive issues often worsen in December due to stress, heavy meals, and inconsistent eating patterns.
You can support your digestion by:
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Eating slowly
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Walking after meals
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Drinking water throughout the day
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Enjoying warm, cooked foods
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Reducing alcohol-sugar-caffeine combinations
A few mindful choices help reduce bloating, discomfort, and inflammation.
Using the Holiday Reset
Our Holiday Reset guide is designed to help you simplify your choices and routines.
This is a great resource if you want:
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A gentle structure
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A simple plan for balanced meals
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Daily habits without overwhelm
It’s not a diet. It’s a support system, and December is the perfect time to use it.
The Beauty of Doing Less
You don’t need to overhaul your health this month. You don’t need to be perfect.
You simply need to support your body with the basics it needs.
Simplicity gives your nervous system space to regulate, your hormones room to reset, and your digestion time to function as it should.
January doesn’t need to start with burnout.
It can start with clarity, energy, and a foundation that feels good.
Start With Your Foundations
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, inflamed, exhausted, or out of rhythm, this is a great time to take a deeper look at what your body is asking for.
Our Foundational Assessment helps identify what’s supporting your health, and what may be working against it.
