Holiday Challenge

When working with someone with an eating disorder or weight issues during the holidays I would often give my patient a challenge. "For the first time, in a long time, put weight at the bottom of your list of priorities for the holidays." By this, I mean make each decision during the holidays based on what will make the holidays most enjoyable rather than things that will produce stress such as being harried, worrying about appearance and weight, and having things go perfectly. The objective should be to be calm, relaxed and have a good time. Just try it during the holidays. Take everything one step-at-a-time. Forget about how you think others go about their holidays-what would make you savor yours better?

The interesting thing about the challenge has been that the people that take it find out that things don't get as out of control as they expected with weight, eating or anything else.

I got into a habit many years ago of asking myself as each holiday season approaches, "What can I do this year to make these holidays less stressful?" I've tried many things during the years which I have incorporated year after year. The holidays have become so much more enjoyable that it has become harder to find more things that will make them better.

Try it, you'll like it.