In the last instalment, I told you to eat the sweets, because the less power you give a food, the less control it has over you. The same idea applies to the holidays, when food can easily become the focus of the entire day.
A lot of people spend this time of year planning what they’ll eat, deciding what they shouldn’t have, and working out how they’ll make up for it tomorrow. While that’s going on in your head, you’re missing the story your grandfather tells every year and your kids laughing in the next room, and you don’t get those moments back.
The fix is to put your attention somewhere else. The more present you are with the people you love, the less attention you have left for the food, and that’s when it stops running your day.
6 Ways To Stop Hyperfocusing On Food Here’s what to do at your next holiday gathering:
Eat your normal meals leading up to it. If you save all your calories for dinner, you’ll arrive starving and spend the whole day thinking about food. Have your usual breakfast, like eggs and fruit or Greek yogurt and berries, so you can show up ready to enjoy yourself.
Make your plate, then sit down. Choose what you really want, including dessert, and eat it at the table with everyone else instead of picking at appetizers in the kitchen for three hours.
Move away from the food. If everyone is gathered around the appetizers or the dessert table, invite someone to talk in another room or head outside for a few minutes.
Pick one person to catch up with. Before you get there, think of someone you haven’t really talked to this year. When you see them, put your phone away and ask them something you actually want to know.
Plan something that isn’t about food. Go for a walk after dinner, kick a football in the yard, or start a card game with the kids. It gives everyone something to do besides going back for more.
Don’t plan to make up for it. Skip the extra cardio and the smaller breakfast the next morning, then go back to your normal meals and training. If you’re already planning your punishment, you’re still thinking about the food.
A few years from now, you won’t remember how many cookies you ate, but you will remember who was at the table with you. I know we’re still a bit away from the holiday rush, but I figured why not plant the seed early. This year, make the people the main event, and let the food be something you enjoy along the way.
P.S. Enjoying the holidays without stressing over every meal is something to really focus on. Don't just get through the holiday chaos, power through and end the year strong 💪