The holidays can be a fun and exciting time of year, but they can also be stressful as all get out. I mean, raise your hand if you’re usually hiding in the bathroom during your holiday office party 😉 Many of us tend to go to town when it comes to our eating habits this time of year, so I wanted to give you a few tips on how to avoid binge eating as you get your jingle jingle on…
Stay present. Amid the chaos of this time of year, we tend to get so caught up in our heads that we check out. Make it a habit to continually check in with yourself to make sure you’re grounded and present, which will help you avoid reaching for food or alcohol to numb out or cope. If you discover that you’re not present, take a deep breath and ground yourself in the moment. When you’re present, you can’t binge eat.
Are you really hungry? It’s so easy to mindlessly eat and drink when you’re stressed at family gatherings or feeling awkward at a work party. This is why it’s important to check in and ask yourself, “Am I really hungry right now?” Are you experiencing an emotional hunger cue or a physical hunger cue? If you’re not hungry, just allow yourself to feel whatever you’re feeling (stress, anxiety, etc.) and have that experience. It’s okay to feel uncomfortable. You don’t need to stuff it down with food or drink. Stay in your body and stay with that feeling until it passes.
Take some alone time. We naturally soak in other people’s energies in addition to our own and whatever we may be feeling in the moment (like, say, holiday stress!?). This is why it’s important to take time for yourself. Go for a walk, hide in your room, journal. Be sure to take some time alone by yourself to be in your own energy and space and get a break from everyone else.
It can be triggering to be around family this time of year, but remember that everyone who triggers you is trying to teach you a lesson. Instead of eating/drinking when you get triggered, allow yourself to feel that pain/discomfort, and ask yourself, “What part of me needs to be loved right now?” When you’re triggered, it means there’s something in you that needs to be acknowledged and healed, so allow yourself the awareness and space.
