First ever “Mental Health Monday”!
The holidays are fast approaching, whether you’re ready or not! Basically a stay-at-home wife, I’ve had the ability to be ready for Christmas for weeks already. But I have nothing to be ready for. My boyfriend and I are heading to BC for Christmas on the 20th to spend the holidays with my family! OH JOY! I do love my family very much but there is a twinge of anxiety inside me that I just can’t seem to push away. The thought of two weeks of being shipped between my mom’s house and my dad’s house without my our own mode of transportation and no means of escape is enough to drive anyone bonkers. I am extremely nervous for the festivities. Alcohol, fattening treats, lack of exercise…these are all my triggers! AHHH
So I am making a bit of a plan of attack for the trip. Thank god my loving boyfriend will be there. he’s always on top of my medication schedule (thank god) and always pushing me to stay active (much to my dismay) but without him I would get lost in a cycle of self deprecation. A downward spiral filled with candy cane ice cream, bailies, and Grand Theft Auto 4 mixed in with a spattering of TOO MUCH RETAIL THERAPY! That’s how I spent last Christmas season. Just add in two boxes of wine and you’ve got the whole picture
Stay Active
We are spending 2 weeks there so we might as well get comfortable. I will be bringing my running shoes so I can keep up my training for an up coming half marathon (that’s a whole other blog post in its self!) and to keep up with my newly adopted active life style. My boyfriend and I have been spending so much time at the rec center lately and it’s been so good for our health (both physical and mental) as well as our relationship. Doing something together with a common goal is so rewarding for our relationship. Little things like high five-ing when he laps me for the third time really make me feel like we are in this together.
Eat CleanÂ
My mom eats very clean and follows a gluten-free inspired diet just like myself. She suffers from the same mental health illnesses I do. Diet is something we can both agree on in terms of maintaining a healthy body and mind. But around the holiday times those lifestyle changes can be easily exchanged for high fat treats and sugary sweets! An extra serving of gluten-rich stuffing? YES PLEASE. So right now I am in talks with my mom to try and create some gluten free dishes to serve around the holiday season. My boyfriend and I love to cook so I hope to cook a lot for her while we are there and teach her some tricks she might not know. The student becomes the teacher, huh? Christmas doesn’t have to equal pounds gained!
Take Time Away
My boyfriend and I have planned some things to do alone while we are there. I know it will be important for both of our sanity to escape the christmas mayhem for a bit. We’ve planned a day at this mineral spa just north of my mom’s town. For $60 each we get full day access to the mineral grotto and unlimited food from the tapas bar! YUM! So Hugh Hefner! We might even get a couples massage. WE’LL SEE. After that we are planning a trip with my mom and her boyfriend up to our families cabin on the ocean and a trip up the mountain to go tubing and hang out at the chalet and sip some drinks! It’s weird to think of doing that kind of stuff with my family. The last time I went up the mountain with them I was about 14 and the bar was 100% off limits to minors!
Enjoy Every Minute
Last but not least… I need to just relax and enjoy the time with my family. I have a habit of getting all wrapped up in the details and planning that I forget to just enjoy. It’s not every day I am lucky enough to spend time with my loving family. I miss them so much. I haven’t seen my Mom since last March, if you can believe it! This has definatly been the longest stretch of time since I moved away a few years ago.
What’s your plan of attack for the holiday season?! Anything else I should try to make the holidays stress free (or at least less stressful)?
mommyzoid 