How to Enjoy December Without the Guilt

It’s that time of year: your calendar is suddenly overflowing, and every event seems to involve booze, a three-course meal, or a steady drip-feed of chocolate. Maybe you’ve already developed a mince pie and Baileys habit (or is that just me…?)

With all this going on, it’s easy to feel out of control around food. Exercise plans disappear because you’re tired, busy, or hungover. Many of my coaching clients are struggling with this right now - and so am I. It’s tempting to say “f*ck it, it’s Christmas”… until January hits and the guilt follows.

But what if you could enjoy the season without the sick/full/guilty cycle? And don’t worry, I’m not here to be the Grinch telling you to “just practice moderation” and avoid all the good stuff 😉

Be kind to yourself

Christmas is a special time for many of us. And while exhausting, all this social connection genuinely boosts happiness and wellbeing, and sharing food is one of the loveliest ways we connect with others. Eating all those lovely foods which you don’t tend to have the rest of the year can feel amazing  and comforting - and comfort eating isn’t necessarily a bad thing, if it makes us feel food (and isn’t our only way of comforting ourselves).

If you’ve been dieting or restricting yourself from eating certain foods (yes, even “not keeping chocolate in the house” counts), research shows that you’re more likely to overeat once those foods appear. That’s not a lack of willpower; it’s how human brains work. You can’t fix a lifetime of “forbidden food” conditioning in the middle of December, so please don’t berate yourself for feeling drawn to it all. Enjoy the foods you love without guilt. In the new year, you can look (kindly!) at your longer-term relationship with food (and I can help with that 🤗)

Listen to your body… with flexibility

Intuitive principles like eating when hungry, stopping when full, and moving in ways that feel good absolutely still apply, but December isn’t a “normal” month. You’ll overeat sometimes. You’ll move less. That’s fine.

What’s helpful is noticing what actually *feels* good.

• Are you eating dessert because you truly want it, or because you pre-ordered it?

• Does a whole day on the sofa actually leave you relaxed - or restless?

• Are you having another glass of wine because you want it, or because everyone else is?

And remember: you’re allowed to say no. You don’t have to eat something just because it’s offered, someone baked it, or “it’ll go to waste.” Eating food you don’t want is still waste - it just goes the long way round. 

If something brings you joy or comfort, go for it. If you’re doing it from obligation or autopilot, you can give yourself permission to pause.

Give yourself some slack

This isn’t the month for perfect habits or flawless routines. You might drink more than planned, overeat, or skip movement. That doesn’t mean you’ve “ruined everything” and you may as well go "all-in" until January. And you don’t need to punish yourself by restricting or over-exercising either. Neither supports long-term health - and both will likely make you feel crappy about yourself (which isn’t what Christmas is all about!).

Instead, notice what’s happened with compassion. A disrupted routine is normal. Reflect on what you’d like to do differently next time because it feels good, not because you “should.” That’s what gets you off the rollercoaster of December highs followed by January shame.

How I’m managing the festive season

For me, this looks like:

• Accepting that things won’t be perfect, and I won’t always eat exactly what my body wants (pre-ordering is intuitive eating’s worst enemy!)

• Protecting time for movement. Not because I should, but because it feels good and supports my energy, so I’m making it a priority (even if I’m doing less)

• Checking the dessert menu first, so I can leave room if something sounds amazing

• Moving away from all-or-nothing mode: a couple of proseccos instead of a full blowout, a chilled sofa day with a bit of feel-good movement, and enjoying the foods I love, but stopping when I’ve had enough.

Already dreading January? 

If you’re worried about hitting January feeling guilty, sluggish, or like you need to “start again”: I’ve got you.

I’m putting together a completely free January email series: Resolutions, Reframed. Short, gentle advice to help you begin the new year without punishment, restriction, or resolutions you’ll inevitably abandon.

Sign up now to get it in your inbox from 1st January.