Surprising energy sapper #2: Decking the Halls
Think allergies only attack during the spring? In fact, 1 in 10 people experience health-draining reactions to the mountain-cedar pollen given off by live evergreen trees and wreaths, according to experts from the University of Texas. Plus, the 20 percent of Americans with allergic rhinitis -- allergies triggered by airborne irritants -- may be irritated by the dust from stored ornaments and decor. The result? "Itchy eyes and sneezing, but also fatigue, which many women don't realize,” says Marjorie Slankard, M.D., co-director of the Allergy Clinic at Columbia-New York Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. Research shows that allergies cause tiredness in 80 percent of sufferers.

Feel-better Rx: Forgo live evergreen garlands and use dried cranberries or red and green jelly beans instead, suggests Joyce Weinberg, author of The Everything Guide to Starting and Running a Catering Business.

You may also want to invest in a good-looking fake tree. To deal with the flurry of dust, don a dust mask (you can get them in most hardware stores for a few dollars) while you're moving your decor boxes, and vacuum these bundles before opening them to suck up as much dust as possible. For even more protection, some experts suggest placing dusty items in a zip-top bag and putting the bag in the freezer for at least an hour -- the cold temperature will kill allergy-triggering dust mites.

Next page: The surprising reason that eggnog is an energy-zapper