Enjoying the holidays
The holidays bring about so many emotions. Some are excited for time off and time spent with family, while others are worried about overeating, lack of exercise, and emotionally navigating certain family members. Regardless of what you celebrate and how you choose to do it, I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season. Because so many clients have expressed various negative comments centered around the holidays, I thought I’d share my best tips & tricks that I will personally use to navigate this season.
I eat EVERYTHING! Christmas is my favourite time of year because we get all of the goodies that we don’t typically get all year long. Some things are nostalgic, and others are just plain delicious! I try to be mindful of spreading out my eating so I don’t feel too stuffed and uncomfortable, but I don’t really consider any foods to be “good” or “bad”. I recognize that this is easier said than done for some, but when you can just enjoy food especially for the social reasons & special memories surrounding it during the holiday season, you’ll feel that much better about it all.
I work out because I WANT to. Movement can go one way or the other on holidays. For me, because my job is centered around other people moving their bodies, I get excited to have the time to move for me. I usually begin my day with a slow morning, followed by some sort of movement - the gym, a run, a walk, or a bike ride. Other people find that they simply don’t have the time between holiday gatherings, they aren’t at home so they don’t have access to their gym/studio/equipment, or they truly need a break. If you’re looking for some options while away, check out DY On Demand, since we even have travel-friendly and no equipment workout options.
Slow down! This is my favourite time of year to have no schedule or plans, because if you know me every moment of most of my days (weekends included) are someone planned out down to the minute. I often hear clients express to me that they are worried that if they take time off all of the positive gains they’ve made will be lost. Remember that we need time to recover physically, mentally, and emotionally at the end of the year. Oftentimes people come back stronger and with more motivation and focus after taking some rest. Lean into it.
Speak positively to yourself. When we get out of a routine, it’s so easy to get down on ourselves. Commenting negatively on how we look, judging ourselves for what we ate, or lacking confidence in what we wear. The holidays are meant to be enjoyed. Focus on how you want to feel this holiday season and work hard to find the activities and the people that can help you achieve that.
Be mindful of how you speak to others! This one is SO SO important to me. Holidays usually mean you’re surrounded by people you may not often see all year. The number one thing everyone loves to discuss is how someone looks. Think twice before commenting about someone’s body in front of them or behind closed doors. We are worth so much more than our appearance, we never truly know why someone’s body may have changed, and it simply is NONE OF OUR BUSINESS.
Don’t compare yourself to someone else’s highlight reel. Let’s be real. No one’s family is perfect. Arguments may occur. Some people may choose to spend time with their chosen family instead. As long as your holiday is exactly how you wish it to be, don’t worry so much about what everyone else is doing…or pretending to be doing so they can post it online.
Holidays can be tough. Holidays can mess with our routines. But, holidays can be filled with wonderful memories and special moments. Happy holidays to you and enjoy however you wish to spend them!
Yours in self-discovery,
Rachel