By Heather Scott

During the holidays, celebrations are often centred around food, intensifying the challenges faced by someone with an eating disorder. Because this can be a stressful time, here are some tips to help you manage the holidays.

Communication is key

As soon as you feel triggered and feel like isolating yourself, tell someone. This doesn’t have to be a conversation in front of everyone, it can simply be a signal that you are uncomfortable and need extra support. Remember that everyone wants this to be an enjoyable time, not an added stress, so never feel guilty for needing extra support.

Try to do festive activities which aren’t centred around food

During the holidays, it often feels that every celebration is centred around food so plan something that takes away the focus on food such as:

Watching festive movies
Playing games
Going for a walk
Seeing friends

Practice self-care and self-compassion

You don’t need to earn self-care; it is something that we all need.

Some things to do to practice self-care:

Journal
Go for a walk
Do some yoga
Draw
See friends
Listen to music

Through self-compassion, we learn to accept who we are and forgive ourselves. You are not defined by the challenges you face but instead how you rise above them. Treat yourself the way you would your best friend. Recognise when the critical voice is overtaking and meet it with an empowering voice, one that encompasses self-worth and appreciation.

Challenge yourself

Use the holidays as an opportunity to challenge yourself. It will feel easier to run away, but I challenge you to be brave, fight for who you want to become without an eating disorder. Start small, try one thing, and see how you get on. Remember food is more than fuel, it provides us with an opportunity to connect with those around us and make memories.

Heather Scott is a final year undergraduate Physical Activity and Health student with a key interest in performance nutrition. Heather hopes to reduce the stigma of mental health in sport and help others develop healthier relationships with their body, food and exercise.