How to Make the Holidays Less Difficult and Recover from Them

As we begin to navigate this holiday season, various challenges arise for each of us. One aspect that is frequently emphasized is food.

While many people tend to feel stressed and overwhelmed by the food they are asked to consume, we want to take a step back and explore how we can promote mental and physical well-being when engaging with food during the holidays.

Here are some ways we can approach holiday food to help us feel good instead of fostering fear, anxiety, and a feeling of overwhelm.

Start to look at it from a positive place

When food becomes overwhelming, we often shift our focus to how it impacts our body rather than being present in the moment and appreciating how it supports us. Food has the potential to bring people together, fostering connection through shared experiences. In this context, the significance lies not solely in the specific foods but in the overall experience.

Stepping away from fixating on individual foods and emphasizing the broader experience can alleviate the pressures associated with specific items and infuse joy into the moment instead of overwhelm. This shift in perspective not only eases the emphasis on what we are eating but also redirects the focus to the people and the environment that the food creates.

Remember that you always have a choice

At the end of the day, you have the autonomy to decide what you choose to eat and what you prefer to abstain from. There's no obligation to consume something that may make you feel unwell, even if it's prepared by someone else who wishes you to partake.

You're not obligated to eat when you're not hungry. Despite contrary feelings, you retain the power to determine the quantity of food that suits you, whether it's more or less. Remember, you are in control; food does not dictate your choices.

Don’t restrict during the day

When we engage in restriction during the day in anticipation of a substantial meal, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Insufficient daytime eating triggers a physical response where our blood sugar drops, resulting in cravings for sugar and an inability to feel satiated as the body tries to compensate.

Allowing ourselves to reach this state can lead to overeating later in the day. Maintaining a nourished and balanced state throughout the day empowers us to recognize when we are full or no longer wish to eat during a later meal. This prevents our body from driving our appetite from a state of panic and depletion.

Give yourself permission to have a little bit of everything

Restriction poses challenges for our bodies, triggering a rebellious response each time we impose limitations on what we can have and do. Denying ourselves something we desire can lead to a backlash in our nervous system, often resulting in binge-eating or overindulgence in specific foods.

Living from a restrictive mindset fosters the notion that if we allow ourselves only a small amount, we may never have it again. This belief can prompt us to consume all of it in a single moment to maximize enjoyment. Granting ourselves permission to have something can actually prevent overeating. By acknowledging that we can choose to have the food the next day or thereafter, there's no need to consume it all at once. It's perfectly acceptable to enjoy food that makes us feel good.

Drink lots of water

Water is the sustenance for our bodies, aiding in the movement of substances throughout our system and supporting each of our elimination pathways, including the proper function of the liver and kidneys. Drinking water not only facilitates the physical processes within our body but also fosters a connection with our internal sensations.

It provides our body with the essential tools needed to promote efficient digestion and elimination. Hydration with water is a valuable means to alleviate any discomfort that may arise from holiday eating.

Do things that bring you joy throughout the day

During the holidays, food often takes center stage, but it's not the sole factor influencing our choices. Our comfort level in our bodies and the sense of control we feel can significantly impact our eating decisions. Ensure that you don't allow food to dictate your daily choices. Engage in activities throughout the day to enhance your mental well-being, empowering yourself to approach meals with a positive mindset.

The most important thing to remember is that it is the little things that make the biggest difference in how you are feeling. Our health and how we feel are not all or nothing. It is a collection of all the small things that we do each day to support ourselves. The holidays are no different.

A Final Word

During the holidays, make sure you enjoy food positively and focus on the overall experience. It is important to make mindful choices without strict diets and to hydrate yourself. Really focus on things that bring you joy throughout the day, as this can better support your well-being.

If you would like to learn more about how my Naturopathic Medicine can help support you this Holiday Season, you can book a consultation with me!