Surviving & Thriving During the Thanksgiving Holiday
What do you associate Thanksgiving with? Food? Family? (Or maybe Black Friday shopping?) What feelings come up? Excitement? Anxiety? Dread? It’s true: spending a day, weekend, or even an hour with family can elicit mixed emotions for many. Then add in food—well, now you’ve got a potential recipe for disaster!
But we never go into battle unprepared, right?
So if this holiday is indeed one that brings fear, dread, and stress—let’s make sure you have a self-care plan so you walk away from this holiday unscathed (or at least not as scorched).
Here are some ideas:
1. Set, and hold your boundaries. This is the most difficult AND the most important. Do you have a mother or well-meaning uncle who just can’t help make comments about the shape of your body? Or decide to tell you about their new keto-paleo-intermittent fasting hybrid diet that’s working for them and, of course it will for you, too?
The line I use is “I don’t talk about my body, let’s change the subject” and then leave it at that. No doubt people will stare at you, mouth ajar, and tell you that you’re being sensitive. They’ll get defensive. That’s okay. Just remember your body is never up for discussion, especially if you don’t want to join in on the conversation.
Oh, and PS: PLEASE, PLEASE don’t be the person commenting on another’s weight (weight gain or loss) or talk about dieting. While it’s apparently an acceptable topic of conversation in our diet-driven society… just refrain. You’re doing more harm than good.
2. Crank up the self-care. This is a time for extreme self-care. I’m not talking about round the clock baths and lavender candles, but if that’s what does it, and you’ve got the time and water, then great. Kidding aside, ask yourself: What do I need to do to get through this? Perhaps it’s taking a walk outside when Uncle Joe starts talking politics. Or maybe the Thanksgiving meal makes you anxious so you bring snacks and familiar foods for yourself. Maybe it’s a conversation with your partner or other trusting family member about what you need for self-care, and having them support you. It’s holding those boundaries you established above in #1. Whatever it takes.
3. Give yourself permission- and compassion. It’s OK that this isn’t your favorite holiday and that you feel anxious. It’s OK that you feel overstuffed at the meal. It’s OK that you don’t run a 5K with the family to burn off that meal. It’s OK that you don’t have family and so this holiday is sad for you. Go ahead and give yourself permission to do what you need while showering yourself with heaps of compassion while doing it. Holidays can be difficult, and that’s absolutely OK.
You can do this.
