Hormone-Happy Holidays
The most wonderful time of the year…..Right?
Trees are up, lights are hung, and the stage is set for the perfect Christmas. Just one problem…
You are overwhelmed by your shopping list, drinking more alcohol than usual, eating sugary treats on the daily, stretching your budget, trying to balance your family’s expectations, working to hold your boundaries, missing your loved ones, and sleeping like dirt.
You kind of feel like crap.
Look at that list, love. It’s no wonder you feel physically and emotionally blah. It’s no wonder you hit the New Year and think you need to start a new diet.
For many of us, the month of December is a really tough time to stay aligned and in tune with yourself. All of the emotional, financial, and physical stressors coupled with less nutritious food intake is a recipe for VERY unhappy hormones.
Luckily, there are practical, foundational changes you can make to your mindsets and habits to get in touch with what is actually important to you this holiday season, AND feel awesome all the way through.
”get in touch with what is actually important to you this holiday season, AND feel awesome all the way through.”
Ask yourself what you can simplify in your expectations.
If you feel overwhelmed trying to do it all (gift shopping, wrapping, decorations, family experiences, get all the Christmas movies watched, holiday baking, etc…) take a step back and assess: is this a true priority of mine to build the holiday experience that I want? OR am I trying to do all the things because that’s what you have always done? Or because of the expectation of what Christmas is “supposed” be to be like?
Some ways to simplify:
Reduce the number of gifts being given/received. Arrange to do a secret santa with your family, give the gift of quality time, or go for a no gift Christmas. Maybe the children get gifts and the adults enjoy watching them open presents. If gift giving/receiving a large part of your joy, GREAT! Keep it. But if it’s causing you more stress than it’s worth, don’t be afraid to change the system.
Ask your family what their ONE favorite Christmas activity is, and prioritize those few favorites first. Anything that happens after that short list is a bonus.
Embrace the pandemic quiet. Some of us might really be missing the new Christmas party every weekend, but try to take advantage of the extra quality time with your family. Don’t feel like you have to replace every past tradition with a socially-distanced option.
Separate the food from the tradition
A lot of the extra sugary treats are enjoyed in the context of a tradition that we love. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. To ensure that you continue to enjoy your food mindfully, you need to ask yourself:
“What do I love here, the TRADITION or the FOOD?”
For example, my mom and I make sugar cookies and frost them every year for as long as I can remember. We use the same food-coloring stained tablecloth, the same 10-year old sprinkles, and the same cookie cutters passed down through the generations. I did some reflecting and realized it wasn’t really the cookies that I loved. It was the quality time, the tradition, the working with my hands, and the creative decorating process. The good news? I can enjoy all of that JUST AS MUCH without eating a single cookie. It wasn’t that I was depriving myself of something I wanted- it was that I realized that what I actually wanted wasn’t the food. Can you go caroling with hot tea instead of hot chocolate and enjoy yourself just as much? Can you enjoy the holiday party just as much without drinking? The answer might be NAH- that food/drink is a crucial part of the tradition. Totally fine! Own that choice and enjoy. But if you are mindful, my guess is that there are some traditions that you can separate from the food and enjoy JUST as much (maybe more, because you physically feel awesome).
eat plenty of raw seeds and nuts
Nuts and seeds are hormone-supporting foods all year round, but can be particularly beneficial in times of stress. They are a great source of antioxidants, many essential nutrients, and hormone-boosting fats. They help balance blood sugar, manage cravings, and promote digestion and detoxification. Aim to eat raw nuts + seeds every day in some form to buffer the effects of extra sugar/alcohol and manage the impact of stress. Easy and delicious!