🎄 My Christmas Survival Kit: 12 Days of Nourished Festive Joy
- annie
- Dec 10, 2025
- 4 min read
The festive season is officially upon us — a beautiful mixture of sparkle, chaos, cosy moments, late nights, & the occasional sugar-fuelled sofa slump. This year, I shared 12 Days of Christmas across Instagram: tiny tips, gentle reminders, & a sprinkle of wellness to help you feel good all the way through December.
Here’s your full round-up — all in one place. A little Christmas Survival Kit from me to you. 💛
✨ Day 1 — Alcohol-Free Festive Rituals
If you’re taking it slow on the alcohol this year, you can still make it feel special. My favourite hack? A flashy glass. Yes, truly. The fancy-glass effect is real — your nervous system still gets that “oooh” moment.
A few AF ideas I love:
Simple tonic water with ice + fresh herbs (rosemary is perfect)
A squeeze of citrus
And my go-to: Mother Root (linked here) — a fiery ginger elixir with all the comforting, warming feels that work wonders on digestion & reducing inflammation
You can also add spices, berries, or a cinnamon stick for instant “cocktail energy” without the booze
Think ritual, not restriction.
✨ Day 2 — Don’t Forget the Oils!
When you’re popping your wine or bubbles in the fridge for guests…Please also pop in any oils that are liquid at room temperature.
These oils are sensitive souls — heat & light damage them easily, which reduces their benefits.
Best practice:
Store them in the fridge, or
A cool, dark cupboard
Your future self (& your cells) will thank you.
✨ Day 3 — Giveaway Winner + Why Cacao Wins the Season
Our first festive giveaway winner was the lovely Eleanor, who received a bag of ceremonial cacao. 🎁
Cacao is one of my favourite gentle swaps if you’re a coffee lover but want something softer on your nervous system.
A few reasons cacao is magic:
Rich in magnesium (aka nervous system gold)
Contains theobromine — like caffeine’s calmer cousin
Naturally mood-lifting
Supports focus without the jittery crash
If you’ve been curious about switching coffee for cacao… December is the perfect time.
You can buy a 250g (£20), 500g (£36) or 1kg (£60) bag from me to try for yourself by emailing me annie@nourishedmoves.com
✨ Day 4 — Enjoy Your Treats… & Then Move a Little
Yes, enjoy the sweet treats, the chocolate orange, the movie sofa nest — all of it.
And afterwards? A gentle little wander.
Moving your body after a sugary indulgence helps:
Pull glucose into your muscles
Reduce blood sugar spikes
Lower inflammation
Support steadier energy
Clear your head (& mood!)
Fresh air + natural light = a seasonal miracle worker.
✨ Day 5 — Herbs to Support Your Liver on Party Nights
If you're heading to a party (or three), these foods & herbs can give your liver some love:
Rosemary — supports detox pathways
Turmeric — beautiful antioxidant support
Milk Thistle (drops) — I use it surrounding bigger nights but please check any interactions with your meds or supplements first!
Nothing extreme — just a gentle nudge to your liver during the busiest month of the year.
✨ Day 6 — Giveaway Winner: Free yoga class
The second giveaway winner was Zara, who received a free session to my Tuesday Flow to Restore yoga class (6:15–7:15pm every week).
A little midweek melt is stress-busting reset.
✨ Day 7 — Self-Care Bingo
A wholesome bit of fun: Self-Care Bingo.
A handful of nourishing activities to tick off over the festive period.
Play it alone, with friends, with kids — or just as a gentle reminder to carve out tiny moments for yourself.
✨ Day 8 — Your 15-Min Relaxation Recording + Winter Recipe Book
Day 8 was a double treat. You can download your 15-minute relaxation recording & winter recipe ebook here:
Ideal for cosy evenings, early mornings, or when your brain needs a little “shhh.”
✨ Day 9 — Giveaway Winner: Free ticket to Nidra event
Jackie won a free ticket to my monthly Nidra Event — & chose my personal favourite of the year: The March International Women’s Day celebration, featuring a womb Yin practice.
✨ Day 10 — Let’s Talk Bowel Habits (Of Course We Are)
I’d be doing nutritionists everywhere a disservice if I didn’t go there.
If things… slow down over the festive period (you’re not alone), try my 3 F’s:
1. Fluids: Hydrate! Preferably not the alcoholic kind here.
2. Fibre: Our plates get very beige in December. Fibre helps keep everything moving & cleans on it's travels.
3. Frolic: Move, walk, dance, play, wiggle — whatever gets your body gently going.
Your bowels (& mood) will thank you.
✨ Day 11 — The Ultimate Hangover Cure (Nutritionist Approved)
Yes, even nutritionists sometimes crave a bacon sandwich after a night out.
My top tip? Choose nitrate-free bacon — easier on the body & without preservatives linked to inflammation.
And because sprouts + bacon is a Christmas match made in heaven…Add a cruciferous veg to your sandwich (like sliced cabbage) for extra liver support.
The holy trinity: comfort + nourishment + real-life honesty.
✨ Day 12 — Winter Wellness Reset (Early Bird Now Live!)
When you’re all Xmased out & maybe feeling like Ian Beale in that GIF (I'm usually there around New Years)...
My Winter Wellness Reset is here to catch you.
This gentle, nourishing reset includes:
Winter nutrition tips
Seasonal recipes
Yoga videos
First dibs on Nidra event tickets
Three months access (Jan–March)
Monthly community winter walks — wellies encouraged
A flexible 4-week format you can self-pace
Early bird price: £35 (until Jan 1st) Then £49 from January.
A beautiful way to begin the new year softly.
Wishing You a Nourished, Joyful Christmas
I hope these little tips & treats bring a bit more ease & sparkle into your December. Feel free to share this post with anyone who might need a calmer, more grounded festive season... or just a little chuckle.
And if you join me for the Winter Wellness Reset — I can’t wait to spend the cosiest months of the year with you.
With love,
Annie x
