The holidays can be challenging if you have a chronic illness. Here are some steps to make sure your holiday goes more smoothly.
Know not everyone will be supportive
- Unfortunately not everyone will be supportive of the diet and lifestyle changes you’ve made. You can choose to keep your answers short and clear, but don’t feel the need to over-explain your reasons why (for example “I’ve made some diet and lifestyle changes recently, and I feel a lot better when I stick to them all the time”). The people who judge you the most are often insecure with their own diet or lifestyle, and seeing you do something different or improving yourself makes them uncomfortable. Some people will never fully agree or understand your reasons why, and that’s okay.
Plan ahead
- If you have special dietary needs, you will need to plan ahead so you’re not left starving or stuck having to eat something that is going to cause you health symptoms. This can look like eating a meal at home before attending a party, bringing a few dishes to share at the party, or informing the host of what you CAN eat (keep it simple if you go this route, like “I eat whole foods like meat with lots of veggies.”)
Communicate your needs
- The holiday season can be packed with fun outings and parties, but those can take a toll on anyone who is dealing with chronic illness. If you need to skip a party or get extra rest, communicate this with the people around you. Let them know you’d love to see them, but you are prioritizing your health so you’ll need to reschedule for another time. Don’t be afraid to also ask for them for help if you need help completing additional decorating, chores, or party-prep at your own house.
Honor yourself and your loved ones
- We all have much-loved, traditional foods that show up on the table every year. They’re always baked with a lot of love, but they may no longer be supportive to your health journey. When this happens, you may feel tempted to go ahead and eat the food to avoid hurting the person’s feelings. You can honor your own health and your loved one by saying something like “I appreciate the love you put into this dish. I’ve made some dietary changes and I’m feeling so much better. I want to continue on this path to help support my health.”
Be confident in your choice
- Know that you are worth having good health, and you are worth putting the extra time and effort into yourself to make and keep your diet and lifestyle changes. There will be times when this feels difficult and you might question your choices. When this happens, remind yourself of your reason “why” you’re doing this – to support your health and achieve your goals. Keeping your reason “why” in mind will help you stay on track and keep moving forward. Just remember, “You CAN do this!”