The holiday season is a great time to spend with friends and family, but it can also be filled with stress and anxiety. Understanding how to cope with holiday stress is essential as we approach Thanksgiving 2021. Finding ways to handle family conflict and stress is especially important if you are recovering from alcohol addiction. Following a few holiday stress tips can play an important role in staying healthy while enjoying Thanksgiving dinner and the rest of the holidays.
Family Conflict and Stress
Spending time with family members is often one of the main aspects of the holidays. However, this can create additional stress if you have a strained relationship with anyone in your family. Trying to avoid alcoholic drinks can especially be difficult if it’s freely available. Understanding how to avoid common triggers involving alcohol and stress is essential to your recovery during Thanksgiving 2021 and the holiday season.
How to Avoid an Alcohol Relapse During the Holidays
Avoiding holiday alcoholic drinks is often a challenging task for many people. Staying away from alcoholic beverages is especially difficult during Thanksgiving dinner. One way to avoid giving in to this temptation is to have a pre-planned response if anyone offers you a drink. Simply saying “no, thank you” is often a good enough reply. Bringing a close friend along to a holiday party is also helpful in making you stay accountable to maintaining your sobriety.
Attend Local Meetings in Your Area
Sometimes holiday stress can feel overwhelming due to a variety of reasons. Confiding in other people that are also going through recovery helps give additional support during these stressful times. Many different support groups include seasonal parties during the holidays, an excellent option for anyone struggling with alcohol and stress. Looking up any meetings in your area beforehand is a great way to receive support while allowing you to take time out of your schedule to attend these functions during the holidays.
Thanksgiving 2021: Focus on Healthy Eating
Avoiding alcoholic drinks isn’t the only challenge during the holidays. Eating healthy during the holidays is often a big challenge for anyone. An average person often gains at least one pound over the holidays, as all of this extra weight can add up the years. While it’s great to enjoy delicious food during Thanksgiving dinner, it’s a good idea to create a realistic goal to help you avoid gaining weight during the holiday season.
Here are a few simple tips to consider for healthy holiday eating.
Don’t Try to Starve Yourself
The first tip to remember during the holidays is to eat your meals regularly. Waiting too long in between meals will significantly increase the chance of you overeating, especially if it’s a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. Eating plenty of protein and fiber will also help you feel full longer, making it easier to avoid overeating.
Stay Active
Another critical tip to remember for healthy holiday eating is to stay active. A quick 20-minute walk outside is a great way to burn a few calories, and it can even improve your overall mood. You can even bring along a friend or family member to help keep you company. Staying active each day is a great way to manage holiday stress and make getting along with other people much more manageable.
Plan Your Meal
One way to avoid putting on weight during Thanksgiving 2021 and the rest of the holiday season is always to plan your meals in advance. Keeping track of your calories is helpful to avoid overeating and adding on any unnecessary calories. You can choose from numerous apps that allow you to create a daily calorie goal by inputting your meals. Avoiding any holiday alcoholic drinks is also crucial to sobriety while making it easier to manage your weight.
Stay Hydrated
Many people often mistake feeling hungry due to not staying hydrated. Drinking plenty of water will help curb your appetite during the holiday season, which is a great way to avoid overeating food. An easy way to determine how much water you need to drink is to divide your weight in half to estimate how many ounces of water you need each day.
Closing Thoughts
The holiday season is often a special time of the year spent with friends and family. However, family stress can often happen during the holidays, especially if you aren’t used to being with some of your family regularly. Learning to follow a few holiday stress tips is essential if you struggle with alcohol or other substance issues. Eating healthy during the holidays is also important in avoiding any weight gain while still allowing you to enjoy the holiday season.
