Stay in control of the holidays

Yes, Thanksgiving has passed with only a slightly guilty feeling about that third helping of dessert. But hang on; the real temptations of the holiday season are still to come.

Of course, the odds are pretty good for surviving the holiday season, unless someone drinks and drives, but more on that later. How about making a goal this year of being successfully in charge of yourself during the holidays? In charge in a way that lets you enjoy the holidays without feeling tired, overweight or guilty when the second of January rolls around?

One starting point to making the holiday season more manageable is simply to do some planning. If this is a season of gift buying for your family, start making lists now of what things will do the job and stay within an affordable budget. Holiday gift giving can be fun and exciting. January credit card bills can only be depressing, especially if December spending was all last-minute impulse buying. And yes, homemade gifts and truly thoughtful gifts are always what will be the most appreciated and usually won’t break the bank.

How about not letting holiday overeating be another source of guilt this year when you step on that scale in January? Most people face multiple opportunities for temptation from office parties to visits with friends and family gatherings. Each event will usually offer plenty of chances to consume too many high-calorie treats.

Should you avoid all the parties and all those food temptations? Nope. That decision will just leave you feeling deprived and unhappy; instead, enjoy all your favorite things slowly and in moderation. The main thing is to make sure you’re in control. One serving of holiday dessert is lovely, but two or three servings means the party is in control of you.

And speaking of staying in control, the place it matters most is holiday drinking. One drink too many has led to countless DUI tickets, serious accidents or even just a career disaster thanks to what was said or done at that office party. Especially if you’re normally a nondrinker or a very light drinker, don’t let the holiday spirits cause trouble. Soft drinks, a wine spritzer or just one drink slowly enjoyed throughout the party are all good choices compared to overindulging.

Enjoying the holiday season while staying in control is a nice formula for a good time without creating regrets in January.

Counseling Corner is provided by the American Counseling Association. Send comments and questions to [email protected] or visit the ACA website at http://www.counseling.org.