Written By: Mar Ratanadawong McM

Marked by glistening white snow and early sunsets, the holiday season brings much wonder to the world around us—

Sometimes things can feel a little less magical than we’d like them to during this time of year when battling an eating disorder or disordered eating behaviours. The winter holidays can bring extra high levels of stress and anxiety for those who are already having trouble navigating their eating and feeding habits.

It takes some preparation, but with some planning and support, the holidays can be made to feel a little less daunting! By challenging yourself to continuously work in maintaining recovery, you are showing incredible strength and resilience that will prove beneficial in your own healing and growth.

My biggest tip for those navigating disordered eating during the holidays: make a list and check it twice! Write down a list noting all the things you need to prepare for this holiday season. (Really, write it down!!)

Things to include on this list include:

- A personal goal or objective

Make note of something you’d like to accomplish this holiday season. Maybe you want to read a book before the new year begins or learn a new craft! It can be anything and doesn’t need to be related to your recovery.

- Your Appointment Schedule

This time of year is notoriously busy and it can tempting to cancel appointments during this season citing the colder weather and shorter days. Sticking to your regular appointment schedule will ensure you have support from your care team during these times of potentially heightened stress. Using a day planner or keeping a calendar is a great way to schedule your day-to-day activities and commitments.

- Contact Information for your Support Person

Write down the name and number for a reliable support pal that you can lean on for extra support during holiday festivities. Having an accessible contact makes navigating anxiety-inducing situations much less stressful.

These are just a few ideas of things to write down and come back to over the next few weeks. Having a hard-copy version of your list makes it easy to reference when you’re in need of a little guidance. If there’s somebody you would be comfortable sharing your list with, let them know you’d appreciate the extra support in sticking to your plan. What other things would you include on your list?

Wishing everyone a warm and cozy holiday season!