Staying Recovery-Focused During the Holidays
The holiday season is full of opportunities to connect with loved ones, enjoy traditions, and feel the warmth of community. In eating disorder recovery, this time can also be incredibly challenging because of shifts in schedules and routines.
By: Korie Born
These changes to our everyday lives can be exciting, but they can also be destabilizing. In the spirit of prioritizing recovery this holiday season, here are three tips to help you feel comforted and supported all winter long.
Plan Ahead
The holidays come with unpredictable gatherings with family and friends that we don’t often see, meals we aren’t used to eating, and events that only happen during this time of year. It might seem impossible to plan ahead for the holidays, but there are certain steps you can take. Consider the yearly traditions - do you know what meals will be served at big gatherings? If not, can you plan to bring something you feel comfortable eating that is within your recovery meal plan? Make a plan for meal-focused events and strategize an exit plan if you become overwhelmed. Knowing what you will eat or how you will protect yourself from being overwhelmed ahead of time can help you mitigate stress.
Enlist Support
If you are traveling home for the holidays, maybe you know there is a family member there that can help you prioritize your recovery during the visit. Have an open conversation with them about your recovery goals and plans at the beginning of your trip so that you have someone on your team to help you out if things get challenging. If this isn’t an option for you, reach out to a friend to bring with you or have on stand-by on the phone in case things get tough. You can also speak with your treatment team to develop a communication plan for support during this time of year.
Embrace Uncertainty
No matter how much we try to plan, life throws us curveballs. There are so many moving parts to the holidays, from meals and events to company and conversation. It can be helpful to embrace this uncertainty and approach it with a curious and grateful mindset. Consider writing a recovery-focused mantra or affirmation on a sticky note to keep with you at all times. Something as simple as, “There may be elements out of my control, but I can still choose recovery,” could be a comforting statement during this holiday season.
No matter how unpredictable, busy, or chaotic the holiday season may be, remember to prioritize your recovery and nourish yourself adequately so that you can enjoy all that the season has to offer. Don’t forget that even if this time of year is stressful, the holidays will be over before you know it!
You may notice that eating disorder triggers and urges seem to come up more frequently, especially with the holidays right around the corner. BALANCE’s new 12-Day Winter Break Eating Disorder Treatment Program can guide you toward lasting recovery. Reimagine the joy of the holidays with expert guidance, eliminate being overwhelmed with food and body distress, and reconnect with yourself before the new year. Learn more about our limited-time Winter Break 12-Day Intensive here.
Our admissions team would happily answer any questions about you or a loved one receiving eating disorder treatment. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below, or read more about our philosophy here.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Korie Born (she/her).
Korie Born is an educator turned Intuitive Eating Counselor with passion for eating disorder treatment and recovery. She earned an undergraduate degree in French at Sonoma State University, then after several years teaching middle school French and English, pursued a Master’s Degree in Education specializing in the overlap between eating disorders and education. Korie has worked to ensure that students and her Intuitive Eating Counseling clients feel supported in making diet culture and disordered eating a thing of the past. As an educator, she honed her content creation skills to share about Intuitive Eating with students in different settings, and through curriculum development for multiple anti-diet and self-esteem boosting curricula for nonprofits in the field. Korie is thrilled to be a part of the BALANCE team to continue to put her content creation, passion, and belief in true healing into action.