For some of us, though the Holiday season is full of excitement and joyful gatherings, it can also be one full of alcohol/food related temptations, and of stress and overwhelming anxiety that often accompanies the big family / friend get-togethers.  You may think that alcohol may be harder to avoid during the holidays but over-consuming it can help mitigate some of those stresses.

Here’s my Mama K reminder that You Don’t Have to Spend the Holidays feeling this way.

One of the best ways to avoid the overwhelming emotions and situations that the Holidays can bring is to avoid over-consuming alcohol.

Let’s be real, no one enjoys waking up the next morning regretting having that second or third glass, feeling sluggish and hungover and remembering some of our actions/conversations.

Here are my top 5 tips to avoid over-consuming alcohol during the holidays:

1. Check your emotional / mental state:

If you’re feeling anxious, stressed or overwhelmed (and let’s be real, the Holidays can do that to you), remember that food and alcohol will never resolve those feelings. In fact, alcohol will likely exacerbate it – or you’ll feel even worse the next morning. We can often find ourselves turning to food and alcohol as a coping mechanism to numb ourselves and detach from underlying stress, pain, or anxiety that we don’t want to face.

READ: 5 prayers to calm your mind and overcome anxieties.

2. Make healthy non-alcoholic alternatives to avoid over-consuming alcoholic drinks:

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it a million more times, plant-based and healthy choices do NOT have to be boring! Try making a fruit-based mocktail or a fun sparkling water and fresh pressed juice combination.

3. Maintain your morning routine:

Even with all the chaos, travel, and excitement that the Holidays bring, keep your morning routine a constant. This will allow you to set your intentions, remind yourself of your goals, and prepare for the temptations of the day ahead. Download my free resource The Motivated Morning to create a healthy morning routine before the Holiday season hits!

4. Don’t be afraid to say no:

Say no to plans that might put you in a triggering environment. Don’t be afraid to say no when you’ve reached your limit, or say no to the things, people and experiences that aren’t serving you.

READ: How to Say No without Feeling Guilty

5. Before grabbing the glass of alcohol, ask yourself these questions:

Does this decision support my current goals?

What do I believe alcohol is ultimately going to provide me with?

How do I want to feel tomorrow morning? Is this drink worth the gamble?

How would I benefit from not having this drink?

 

Every decision you make is either pushing you towards or pulling you away from your desired results. The Holidays do not have to be a season of backtracking. We can maintain our lifestyle and goals, and still enjoy this season!

 

Our self-paced course LRD Express 180 teaches you how to replace self-sabotaging habits with healthy lifestyle choices!

Click here to enroll now for just $99 and get started straight away.