Top Five Ways to Prepare Yourself for the Holidays
/Notice the title. We aren’t going to talk about ways to prepare for the holidays. I will never attempt to lead a discussion on how to create ornaments or decorate a pumpkin pie. (Though I might talk about the health benefits of pumpkin sometime.)
Let’s talk about preparing YOU for the holidays. Here are my top five steps to take:
Set your intentions. When December 31st rolls around, what emotions do you want to have experienced? What memories will be beautiful to you?
Write these out where you can see them so when you get invitations — or create them — you will have your intentions top of mind.
Plan your priorities. (Then say “no” to the rest.) This one is hard for me. The planning is easy, but the saying “no” is harder.
When you say “I am going to host one party and go to 2; the rest of the time I am going to spend making memories with my spouse and kids” it can be a challenge to turn down other invitations.
When you say “We are going to the mountains for Christmas” and extended family gets upset, it can be uncomfortable.
3. Learn to savor your holiday treats. This is part of Intuitive Eating and a small piece of what I teach in my online holiday course “Hold the Stuffing.” Practice this now.
Select a favorite treat and, undistracted, take one bite. Pay attention to the taste. Rate it. Then take a second bite and do the same. Then a third. On so on. Around the third to fifth bite you will notice the intensity of pleasure decreases. There is your cue. Stop.
You can always have it again later.
4. Schedule in the movement you need to feel energetic through the season. Don’t ignore your daily walks or whatever exercise keeps you feeling great.
5. Know your triggers. Who or what triggers you to feel stressed? For me, lack of sleep is a big one, so I know during the holidays when extra activities are going on, sleep must be an even higher priority.
What will you do to prepare yourself for the Holidays?
