A PSA for the Holiday Season

It’s officially November. Halloween has passed, the days are shorter, and Christmas decorations seem to be coming out in full force. Between now and December 31st, we will be surrounded by foods we’re told to simultaneously make/bake/enjoy while also told (implicitly and explicitly) to abstain from. A real mind-f**k. 

So what are we to do? First, second and third: practice compassion. When we start to feel anxious, a breath. Fill our lungs, feeling the fullness and space, and then breath out whatever it is we don’t need. Then, the gentle reminder to ourselves: we are not crazy. There is a mixed (intentional) message we receive and we are trying our best to navigate through it. Because the same sources who are showing pictures of perfect cookies and cakes now will be selling us on why our body needs to be fixed on January 1st. 

The thing is: there is no magic switch when the clock strikes midnight on 1/1. But it sure does feel like that. For years I felt that pull (fun fact: my birthday also happens to be 1/1 so it always felt like an extra fresh start) and had a new plan to ‘get it right’ and fix my body, once and for all. I would exercise every day, follow the meal plan I detailed for every bite I took, and it felt wonderful. My guilt for what I felt I indulged in the previous month and a half slipped away and was replaced by feelings of control, elation and purpose. But what came next is what inevitably comes next when we restrict-I would go ‘off’ the plan and binge. Then the shame and feelings of worthlessness would come rushing back in, seemingly with renewed vigor.

So this holiday season, what if we instead focus on caring for ourselves and cultivating enjoyment? This could look like: instead of entering a debate with yourself on whether you should eat a brownie a co-worker brought in, you could take a breath and take a bite…how does the taste fill your senses? Does the texture, flavor or smell stand out most for you? Would you like another bite to enjoy? This holiday season (and always): No matter what you weigh, no matter what you ate yesterday, you deserve to experience joy with eating. 

In addition to enjoying food, how can you care for yourself this holiday season? For some it may mean saying no to a celebration and creating space for time alone. For others it could mean reaching out to an acquaintance in an effort to build a new, nourishing connection.

I’ll be coming back to this topic over the holiday season so check back if you feel it’d be helpful to stay in this conversation. 

~Danielle