Overeating and gaining a little weight is common during this time, but you can enter this time with a positive mindset and strategies to take care of yourself. Managing one’s intake and blood sugar through non-holidays times is difficult enough; consider using this time to recommit to a health-oriented mindset. Some may even use it to launch into new behaviors and patterns ahead of the new year.

As we enter a very busy holiday season, we know that there will be “hustle, bustle” while we are busy and hectic. We will certainly try to enjoy the fun and festivities, but we can sometimes lose sight of the blessings around us. Whether this is due to grief, sadness, depression, anxiety, or the stress of the expectations, we can work to shift our focus to a mindset of gratitude for improvements in our overall well being.

Boundary setting requires the ability to assert your needs and priorities as the highest form of self-care; protecting your own mental health. Be clear and straightforward if someone does not understand the extent of your boundaries. This will leave no room for them to assume you are okay with them breaking them down. Allow yourself grace and accept the discomfort that can come with expressing your needs to others - guilt, shame, remorse, or worry how others will react. The discomfort is common amongst individuals with poor boundary setting, people pleasers and those who are codependent – which is a commonly learned behavior when there is a history of childhood trauma…