For many, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. But the holiday season does come with challenges. With unhealthy food and excessive drink at every turn, a long list of gifts to buy, and holiday traffic to contend with, it’s no wonder so many of us go into the new year feeling spent. The holidays may be beautiful, but one of this season’s hallmarks — holiday overindulgence — definitely isn’t.
Because food and drink can be a challenge for many people with body dysmorphia and eating disorders throughout the year, we’re not going to delve this topic today. But we do encourage you to make healthy nutrition choices whenever you can this year. Don’t forget that your body needs nutrients to keep you energized during this busy season!
That topic addressed, we want to explore three of the most common areas of holiday overindulgence — and what you can do to avoid them.
Overspending
Let’s be honest. The holidays are expensive. Giving gifts is a selfless, caring act. But it can take a toll on your wallet, especially with pressure from retailers to buy more at every turn.
It’s no surprise, then, that a Consumer Reports poll found that nearly 30% of people said that gift shopping is one of the things they most dread about this time of year. And a whopping 29% of people polled said “going into debt” is a dread associated with the season.
You don’t have to go into debt to get thoughtful gifts for your loved ones. Our top tips are to shop local and to get crafty. By shopping locally, you can rest easy knowing the money you do spend is supporting our community. Downtown Ventura is chock full of meaningful, artisinal gifts — without the pressure of the $5 impulse buy at the checkout stand or advertisements playing over the sound system.
By making your own gifts, you can save some serious cash. Plus, handmade gifts really show you care. And — bonus! — you’ll get to avoid crowds and long lines, too.
Overscheduling
December is a time to gather with loved ones, but that doesn’t mean you have to have something going on every night from now until 2020. If you know you’re the type of person to overload your calendar during the holiday season, we encourage you to pull out your calendar right now.
Now, pick at least a few blocks of time and mark them as busy. If a holiday event does come up during that window, you can move the “busy” period but be sure you keep it somewhere on your calendar during the coming weeks. Then, when your “busy” block comes up, use it for self-care. It’s not selfish to take some time for yourself so you can be refreshed and energized at your upcoming social events.
Overextending yourself
Even if you do a good job of keeping breaks in your schedule over the next few weeks, you can still overdo it at the events you do attend. The holiday season is a beloved time of year because families gather. But if your family is challenging for you or you have a specific family member who puts you on edge, you might not be looking forward to the get-togethers. In fact, that same Consumer Reports poll found that one in three people dread “political discussions with certain family members or in-laws” during this time of year.
To avoid the holiday overindulgence of taxing yourself, give yourself the gift of protection during this holiday season. Set up boundaries and don’t be afraid to say no to events where you know there’s a high likelihood of you feeling attacked or outcasted. And if you do find yourself in a sticky situation, don’t be afraid to get out. Calmly say something like, “I can see we have a difference in opinion here. I don’t think continuing this conversation will be productive for either of us.” Then, excuse yourself from the room.
Holiday overindulgence doesn’t have to leave you feeling totally worn down on January 1st. If you want extra support during this challenging time of year, don’t hesitate to contact the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center.
