Tips for Body Positivity during the Holidays
Going home for the holidays can be a good time to relax and take your mind off your studies. However, it may also mean that you are going to be spending time with family and friends that you may not have seen in a few months. Maintaining a good sense of your own body image can be a difficult task, especially with judgmental comments from family members. Here are 4 tips for promoting body positivity during the holidays.
1. Realize Your Self-Worth
During the holiday season, it is important to remember that we are worth so much more than our bodies. We have many talents, strengths, and goals that we want to pursue. Make sure to take time this holiday break to do things that you want to do, regardless of what your family or other members of society may think.
2. Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries with loved ones can be a very scary and intimidating thing to do. However, it can be incredibly beneficial to your mental health and overall wellbeing. In order to set healthy boundaries so that everyone can feel comfortable taking part in holiday festivities, it is important to have conversations with family members about avoiding certain topics of discussion. Some of these may include the discussion of physical appearance, weight gain or weight loss, or comments on eating habits. By having these conversations, it becomes easier to feel comfortable in your own environment and allows you to enjoy your holiday break.
3. Indulge in Your Favourite Foods
Being at home for the holidays means you may have access to the cooking of family members or have more access to your favourite restaurants. Although you may experience negative comments from family, which may lead to negative self-talk, it is important to treat yourself. A practice that can be helpful during this time is intuitive/mindful eating. Ensure that you are eating when you feel hungry, rather than ignoring your body’s hunger cues. Remember that there are no “good” or “bad” foods—food is fuel.
4. Seek out help if you need it.
Despite attempting to have a good outlook on our own bodies, and having difficult discussions with family members, sometimes we still need a bit of extra help. Reaching out to Wellness resources can be very beneficial and having someone to talk to can make a huge difference. In addition to the resources that Student Health and Wellness can provide, you can also reach out to Good2Talk offers free and confidential support to postsecondary students and is available 24/7 365 days a year.
Although body positivity can be a difficult thing to maintain, Student Health and Wellness is always here to support you and provide you with resources. We are wishing you a safe and happy holidays.
- Makayla Foster, Peer Wellness Educator Lead
