Cold, illnesses, food... Why are we so tired as Christmas approaches?

Romain Rouillard 6:05 p.m., December 20, 2022

The Christmas holidays come just in time for millions of French people.

At the end of the calendar year, with the approach of winter, organizations are particularly stressed and the resulting fatigue is particularly felt a few days before New Year's Eve.

A drop in diet that is not necessarily linked to the professional imperatives with which the French are confronted on a daily basis. 

According to Léonard Anthony, hypnosis practitioner and fatigue specialist, the reduction in the length of the day plays a non-negligible role in our state of form.

"The length of time you are exposed to light will act on your hormonal system," he explains at the microphone of Europe 1.

Larger meals in winter

And then to evoke the traditional inconveniences that accompany the arrival of winter.

"There are a lot more attacks in the winter period and in particular viruses. It could be the Covid, it could be various infections and your immune system is constantly solicited".

These small pathologies, certainly benign most of the time, prove to be, in fact, very demanding in energy for our body. 

>>

- Three simple tips to fight chronic fatigue

The beginnings of winter are also accompanied by a drop in motivation, especially for sports activities.

"When winter comes, we don't want to go running in the rain less. It's cold at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning. So we do it less, but it would do us good to do it," says Léonard Anthony.

Especially since our eating habits are somewhat turned upside down when the mercury plummets.

"As it's cold, we load a little more. You do less sport, you forget to drink a little and you will eat more", observes the author of the book "Goobye Fatigue". 

A reality that is particularly true on New Year's Eve.

However, it is essential to maintain a healthy and balanced diet to stay in shape.

"Going to sleep after an overload of the stomach, which will work for a long time, is not a good idea because it will tire you. So nutrition, in winter, you have to be very careful about it", warns Léonard Anthony . 

Rest and dietary supplements 

In order not to sink into winter fatigue, Léonard Anthony obviously recommends rest, but not in any form.

"By not soliciting your body, you also tire it. If you are lying on your sofa for 10 hours a day in addition to your night, well you will still tire yourself", warns the practitioner.

"You have to ask yourself the question of how to get some fresh air, how to oxygenate yourself and continue to do things". 

Finally, doctor Amine Achite emphasizes dietary supplements that can provide a welcome boost of energy.

"There are five of them, including vitamin C and vitamin D. You have iron too, which we all too often forget, and also magnesium."