Gay Holiday Survival Tips, Tricks & Fixes

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, “Christmakah,” Kwanzaa, or any other holiday this time of year, no doubt the hustle and bustle of the season can take its toll on you. Body, spirit, and pocketbook -- all are affected.  Eating different foods than you usually do, often forced connections with family members for the sake of tradition, social events, and the financial stress of buying gifts can all contribute to frazzled nerves and often a little extra “not so jolly” jiggle in the midsection or on the hips.

Here are some thought-provoking tips to help bust you out of the “holiday season” box so that you can start celebrating from a place of possibility and freedom. Make the Yuletide gay this holiday season with these simple suggestions that get you focused on what the most wonderful time of the year is really about!

Instead of getting caught up in the consumerism of the holidays, think of ways to express your appreciation for loved ones that save you income, trees, and precious time. Here are some ideas:

Put a love letter in your partner’s stocking (on a recycled card).
Donate to a cause that is meaningful to your loved one.
Give the gift of your focused presence. Make a date and, most important, keep it!

Let your values play a role in how you express yourself. A love for service could mean volunteering. If you enjoy community, you could host a potluck “no gift” party and get creative with the food or a fun theme.
Create your own traditions: gazing at lights, going to a play, ice skating, cooking a healthy version of a favorite dish, anything at all that brings you deep joy, a sense of peace, and time to breathe.

On that note, never underestimate the power of breathing. This one skill -- if done consciously -- can make or break your experience. If you are faced with a tension-filled family environment, stay in touch with your body and the present moment. Feel your feet on the ground. Feel breath rising in your belly. Breathe into the NOW and realize that often your OLD issues are being triggered. Have a mantra or comforting reminder that you can say to yourself to bring you back to the present moment. For example, imagine the inhale filling every cell of your body with peace. As you exhale, you could say, “It’s not personal.” You could also keep repeating it out loud in the presence of your most obnoxious relative, but that is material for a different article! Before you even show up at your destination, have this breath/mantra resource in place so you aren’t scrambling to find inner peace.  

What I am about to say now may sound radical, impossible even, but nevertheless I will introduce the possibility to those of you who are game. Why are we sabotaging ourselves for a month or more before New Year’s Day only to convince ourselves we will start fresh on January 1? I say, let’s start caring for our bodies now so that we dive into the new year with energy, inspiration, and a head start on what we are committed to creating. If you know that sugar is your enemy or white pasta makes you BLOAT like a corpse out at sea (gross but effective imagery, no?), then why are you eating it? By all means, partake of festive foods in moderation. But please don’t use the holidays as a free pass to gorge on things that actually ROB you of energy when this is the time of year when you could especially benefit from some extra veggies or complex carbohydrates to keep you satisfied. Some major holiday culprits that you may want to watch: alcohol, white sugar, refined and processed foods, and caffeine. Try reducing your consumption of these items by crowding them out with healthier options: green or herbal teas, natural sweeteners like agave nectar or honey, and whole grain pastas. Drink less alcohol and stay hydrated by having a glass of water for every cocktail or glass of wine. Plus you will have to pee so much you will be burning calories running to and from the bathroom.

My hope is that you have uncovered some new ways to express yourself, take care of yourself, and, most important, BE yourself, despite the social hypnosis of what we “should” be doing this time of year.  Let’s move from surviving the holidays to thriving in the midst of them!

Namaste!
Kendra

Images courtesy of Getty

Kendra Fried is dedicated to empowering you to live a radiant life as a strong and successful LGBT individual. Her wellness programs are a powerful, transformational experience of discovering your authentic self in order to express optimal health and well-being. Kendra is a board-certified holistic health and nutrition counselor, hypnotherapist, Reiki Master Teacher, massage therapist, and yoga instructor. She brings the utmost enthusiasm along with 14 years of experience to create a new resource for Planet Out readers.

To learn more about her work, visit Kendra's website, www.montereyintegrativehealth.com, for additional information on wellness programs, Yoga BOOTCAMP, monthly and archived newsletters, or to listen to guided meditations and yoga podcasts. Sessions are provided in person and nationwide by phone or SKYPE.

Coming Soon: Next time, Kendra tackles New Years Resolutions: why make them and why now? She'll help you learn how to make changes that really last and find the joy in your life in the new year!