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I’m giving you 8 ways to survive the holidays with IBS or IBD today.

Listen, getting through the holiday season without IBS and/or IBD is a challenge. All that food, and all of the go, go, go, hustle and chaos sets us Gutsy women up for a disaster mid-season or come January 1. 

This year, don’t let it. 

You control the holiday season, not the other way around.

I have 8 ideas for how to make that happen.

8 Ways to Survive the Holidays with IBS or IBD

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1. Become a list maker.

   This goes along with stress, but make a list of your priorities. You simply cannot get everything done. Trying to be a superwoman this time of year will do nothing for your gut but cause more stress and agony. Make a list, check it twice and then don’t continue fretting over the rest.

2. Heed your body.

   Maybe you have morning problems, going to the bathroom every hour, uncontrollably. Or perhaps you get progressively worse as the day goes on, becoming more bloated, constipated and miserable. You already know which you are. During your “off” times, don’t over plan.

3. Perfect online shopping.

   If your body goes into flare-up mode, don’t worry about being out and about. Do your shopping at home – online (hello, Amazon Prime!), or do a modified version of your shopping by simply picking up various gift cards. I say it in every holiday post, but everyone loves a gift card.

4. A Holiday “You.”

   Take care of you this holiday season. Engage in a daily session of yoga, meditation, walk, workout or relaxation exercise. And please, don’t justify it or feel bad about it. You are important, very important. More important than a series of gifts someone may or may not love.

5. Pamper.

   Speaking of “you,” go ahead and pamper. Take some time out to do something nice for yourself this Holiday Season: massage, pedicure, manicure, hot bath, a coffee or tea date alone, journal time, aromatherapy, a facial, etc. All you have to do to make this happen is tell your husband you need to go to the spa to grab a gift card for his Mother. Then, just stay a little extra longer. I know, genius. (Alternatively, DIY this at home with a DIY body scrub and bath.)

6. Food.

    You must be careful if you don’t want a huge flare-up to occur. Eat, indulge and be merry, but remember that overloading your system with too much will definitely cause a flare up. IBS and IBD don’t care if it’s a holiday.

7. Hydrate.

   Drink water, water and more water. I promise this helps because of all the benefits of water for digestion. Don’t love water? I don’t either. Either suck it up, Buttercup or try my homemade lemonade which I do often to get more water in.

8. Practice Meal Spacing.

   Don’t eat 24/7, just because you can. Try leaving 3-4 hours in between meals to let your digestive system rest. Learn more about Intermittent Fasting HERE.

Don’t Wait!

You don’t have to wait until January 1st to start feeling better today. Grab my 90-day gut healing journal and just start. Best time to start was yesterday. Second best time is today.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:

1. A Gutsy Girl’s Bible
2. The Leaky Gut Meal Plan
3. The Time is Now

Xox,
SKH