Help! It's the Holidays.

POV- You are in college from Monday to Friday, putting in ten-hour days, buried under a pile of last-minute assessments, showcases, exams, and essays. It feels like being trapped on a speeding train, with the sound of your heartbeat echoing like the rhythm of the tracks. As Easter break approaches, there's a mix of excitement and fear. The anticipation of everything coming to a halt is thrilling, yet daunting. When the chaos subsides, the inner voice grows louder. It's a dilemma between going home, where you feel misunderstood, or keeping yourself occupied to drown out those unsettling thoughts. 

Disordered eating can be used as a way to cope with anxiety and the change of environment/routine/relationships that come with holidays can be a big cause of anxiety. It is quite natural to feel anxious around the holidays and to want to retreat to the depths of your disordered eating to manage these feelings. Here are a few things that might help and comfort you during the holidays.

Know Your Rights and Write Your Rights

If you are heading home, especially to a place or around people that may provoke emotional responses, or if you are staying put, it's essential to be well-versed in your rights. Here are some rights compiled for you to learn, utilise, print out, or amend as needed:

I have the right to eat when I want to eat, regardless of traditional timings.

I have the right to rest completely.

I have the right to nourish my body differently.

I have the right to wholeheartedly enjoy food with my family and friends.

I have the right to change my mind.

I have the right to have alone time.

I have the right to enjoy things I don’t normally have.

I have the right to nourish my soul with chocolate.

Talk to Someone

Talk to someone about your anxieties and what you have been going through. Tell them you are anxious to go home because your mum might make you eat foods you are scared of, or that you are scared to binge on foods you don't normally have, or that you won't be able to weigh your food. Talk to your family about your thoughts/behaviours/feelings. If that feels too overwhelming, talk to us. We will have our DM's open to support you throughout the holidays so you can talk to people who understand you and who can help you.

Have Snacks That Make You Feel Safe

At different stages of your recovery, you may not be prepared to eat the food offered to you at home. It can be helpful to have some safe snacks in a bag. If you find yourself too hungry to eat what's available, you can turn to your personal snacks. While this isn't a permanent fix, it can provide comfort during moments of anxiety and uncertainty. Seeking guidance from a counsellor can assist you in achieving a calm, adaptable and flexible relationship with food.

Holiday Ins and Outs

Ins	Outs
Doing homework at the start of the break	Leaving homework until the last minute
Deep Rest	HIIT Cardio (you get enough of this at college, no fitness will be lost in a few weeks and you need time for your body to recover/rebuild/restore)
Massage	Putting your body through pain.
Nourishing and refuelling your body with foods for mind/body/soul nourishment	Restricting food intake in a bid to ‘compensate’ for less active schedule. (You will end up slowing your metabolism and preventing muscle repair.)
Fun and connection	Regimen and discipline. (You need time for fun and connection in order to reset your nervous system and clear your mind for another term. You are not a robot. Fun is needed to grow as an artist.)
Long Baths	Quick showers
Sleep	Early mornings and late nights.
Rediscovering the other interesting and fun parts of you. There is so much more to you than college and your career. Take this time to nurture the inner artist/swimmer/novelist/hiker/movie buff.	Thinking about college.

Find the Love

Term-time can be full of ‘I should’ and ‘I need’ and not a lot of ‘I can’ or ‘I feel pulled to’. This can take the joy out of what we do and ultimately cause some resentment, pressure and fear where there should be love and joy. Take the holidays to reignite your spark for the training and career you have boldly and lovingly chosen. Belt those songs imperfectly in the car, watch musicals, choreograph some crazy routine for the pure joy of it or even bake some musical theatre themed treats!

Notice the Promises and Rebel!

Have you subconsciously set high expectations for yourself during the holiday season? Remember, it's not realistic or healthy to expect significant changes in your body over a short holiday period. Take this as a gentle reminder that it's okay not to push yourself beyond your limits during the holidays. Giving yourself time to relax and unwind can benefit your flexibility and overall well-being. Sometimes, the most meaningful changes are internal and may not be visible to others. While others may not notice your rest, you will feel the difference in your energy, mindset, and happiness upon your return. Make a commitment to prioritise self-care, rest, and joy during this time.

The Bow and Arrow

The holidays are a time to pull the arrow back so that when the time comes you will soar high in the sky. Pulling the arrow back requires deep rest, fuel and peace of mind. It involves pressing pause on your momentum and taking stock. Which is hard to do.

We cannot soar if we don’t pull the arrow back.