My top tips on navigating the silly season

by Sophie Allen

With the silly season well and truly upon us (umm…where did the year go?!) I thought I’d put together a little guide on how you can navigate this time of year without guilt. Whether you have a body composition related goal or not, managing the silly season can be a stressful time. Then, when you add staying on track, hitting your macro targets, getting your training in, social events, family dinners, and work Chstirmas parties to the mix, well…things can get a little chaotic. 

But before you start to stress, I want to remind you that you CAN enjoy the holiday season and stay on track to achieving your goals. All it takes is a little pre-planning, and a killer mindset. 

So, here are my top tips on how you can sleigh (get it?) your holiday season without food guilt, anxiety or stress. 

  1. Have a game plan. Make a plan of how you are going to manage this time, and stick with it. This could mean enjoying 1 or 2 meals out a week, taking time off tracking altogether, just hitting your protein target, or giving yourself an ‘untracked’ day. Whatever your decision, understand that it will have consequences either way, and own it. Remember, YOU get to make the rules, so do what feels right for you and your own goals. 
  2. Work on your mindset. Girl, it’s Christmas, okay? PLEASE don’t feel guilty for taking some time off the gym, eating all the foods, and enjoying yourself! Remember, it’s what you do consistently that counts. Christmas only comes around once a year, so take some pressure off of yourself and enjoy it. 
  3. Set small daily goals. Focus on smaller, more achievable daily goals instead of your bigger long-term goals during this time. This could mean just hitting your daily steps, drinking enough water, or getting in a minimum amount of training sessions per week. 
  4. Eat mindfully. When eating out for social events, make sure you are staying present and eating mindfully. Listen to your body’s hunger and fullness cues, and stop when you are full. 
  5. Be realistic. Now is probably not the time to start a dieting phase, build as much muscle as possible, or hit a PB in the gym. Be realistic with your expectations of yourself, and remember that your bigger goals will always be there. Focus on smaller daily wins, be present, and have fun. 
  6. Be kind to yourself. Last, but definitely not least, just use this time as an opportunity to be kind to yourself. How you choose to spend your silly season is completely up to you, and there is no right or wrong. Relax, unwind, de-stress, and remember that 1 or 2 weeks off over the Chstirmas period is not going to completely derail your progress. 

Soph xx 

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