Staying Body Positive during the Holidays

The holidays are a fun, festive time for celebration, but they can also be difficult for a lot of reasons. For some of us, late fall and early winter can be both the best and the worst of times.

I adore everything about the holidays (um, YES you can start selling christmas decorations in October), but I’ve noticed in the last few years that it’s also when my anxiety and depression are most likely to act up. Instead of sitting back and appreciating myself and all that’s happened during the year, I’ll say unkind things to myself.

This year, I’m focused on staying body positive and spreading peace unto mah-self. Here are some of the steps I’m using:

#1 Plan and Prepare

If this time of year seems to bring up some patterns over and over, how can you be aware of those patterns and prepare for them? If you know that a particular thing or activity generally makes you feel good about yourself, make time for it.

For me, I know that exercise regulates my moods, so I set aside time during the week to fit that in. Or if you’ve noticed that you are particularly unhappy with your body during this season, consider taking the time to say an affirmation every morning, or to listen to a body positive podcast or book on audible during your morning commute. I’ve been listening to Lindy West’s The Witches Are Coming on Audible. Plan ahead to give yourself what you need.

#2 Control your social settings

You may not be able to erase the advertisements or magazines that start slathering diet culture all over us during this time of year (um, Biggest Loser reboot, I’m looking at you!), but you can control your social media feeds.

Avoid tags, accounts, and groups that will be full of diet talk. Mute or unfollow, and fill your feed with affirming, uplifting hashtags instead. Whether that be #sizeacceptance, or #fatpositive, or #healthateverysize.

#3 Set Boundaries
Set boundaries early or preferably, before showing up, for any holiday gatherings where the guests are known to make body or food shaming comments to you.

Express in advance that your body, your lifestyle, and what you choose to eat are topics that are absolutely off limits. If someone doesn’t respect your boundary after you’ve set it, tell them again that it makes you uncomfortable when they say that, whether or not its meant as a compliment or a joke.

#4 Relax and Ride out the Phase
Whatever happens, remember that this is only one time of year, and that your body has many phases ahead of it, including this one. Remember to check in with yourself and do things that make you feel good, and forgive yourself if you make a mistake.

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