Making Stress-free Holiday Memories

Contributor: Leigh Bell, BA, writer for Eating Disorder Hope

We all want to create a memorable Christmas, not only for ourselves but also for our family. But we can easily take this too far and unnecessarily stress over it. That’s not a holiday tradition I’d like to make.

Developing holiday traditions shouldn’t take the focus off your recovery so make the traditions easy and fun. They don’t have to be elaborate to be nostalgic.

Christmas Traditions

One of my best Christmas memories I have growing up was taking a 12-hour road trip to my great aunt’s every year on the day after Christmas. We’d throw suitcases on top of the van, my six brothers and sisters and I counted the miles until we came upon the White Castle.

The car would smell like those greasy sliders for days. When we arrived in the middle of the night, my aunt would always come out in the cold wearing just her pajamas to greet us.

This memory wasn’t expensive. It wasn’t extravagant. It was one of my favorites because it was filled with love, excitement, and fun. Consider these elements when you are beginning traditions.

A close friend has a wonderful tradition. She buys her children three presents each Christmas. Just three because that’s how many the Wise Men brought to Jesus in the Christmas story. This reduces her stress level because she’s not overbuying and it’s something the kids look forward to each year.

Also consider what you want to the tradition to represent. Those trips to my great aunt’s house represented family. My friend’s three-present rule represents her meaning of Christmas. You can make the tradition simple but meaningful.

Here Are Some Ideas

• Volunteer as family at a shelter or other outreach.
• Make garland from popcorn or links of construction paper.
• Build and decorate a gingerbread house with friends and family.
• Design your own Christmas cards with an image special to you.
• Watch the same movie each holiday.
• Go caroling.
• Buy gifts for a family in need from the Angel Tree.
• Surprise your neighbors with homemade cookies.
• With your child, make a special gift for his or her teacher.
• Go to a Christmas tree farm for your tree.

There are many opportunities during the holidays to start fun traditions that also reflect your family’s values about Christmas. The simpler these traditions are, the more likely you can repeat them annually, and the more time you’ll have to concentrate on recovery.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

How have your favorite holiday traditions changed before and during your recovery from disordered eating?

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About the Author: Leigh Bell holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in Creative Writing and French from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She is a published author, journalist with 15 years of experience, and a recipient of the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism. Leigh is recovered from a near-fatal, decade-long battle with anorexia and the mother of three young, rambunctious children.

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The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on November 16, 2015
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com