Let’s be honest… as great as the holidays can be, they can also be a time of ‘overdoing it’.

You may overindulge on the oh-so-irresistible shortbread cookies, say yes to every single holiday event that pops up, or overspend on your gift giving budget. When you’re in the moment of all the fun and sparkles, making these choices might not feel like such a big deal…

But then once the holidays festivities come to an end, you might feel extremely uncomfortable, disconnected, and frustrated by the in-the-moment choices you made for yourself.

Here’s the good news!

The holidays don’t have to be a time of throwing everything that is important to you out the window. This can actually be a really great time to get clear on what’s most important to YOU!

My guess is that if you’ve made your health and wellness a priority this year, you’ve likely learned a great deal about what works for you and the lifestyle you’re working at creating for yourself.

So, now that you know better…

What do you think would happen if you didn’t allow yourself to make excuses for everything you know to be true about your health this holiday season?

Because here’s the thing… When we know better– we truly can do better! (Even when the holidays come around).

Which is why we’re going to talk about the importance of setting some, ‘never ever’ boundaries for yourself, so you can set some intentions and honour your own needs this holiday season.

If there’s anything I’ve learned this year, it’s that when we get super-intentional about the lives we want to live, every conscious choice we make really does count in us becoming the absolute best possible version of ourselves!

Before the holiday season goes into full swing, let’s be sure you know what your ‘never evers’ are, so that you can continue to prioritize them.

Get Clear On What Your Never-Evers Are Before the Holiday Festivities Begin

You might be wondering what I even mean by the term, ‘never evers’.

In short, your ‘never evers’, are your non-negotiables. These are the things that no matter the circumstance, you absolutely won’t cave on. They’re your boundaries.

Chances are, during the holidays you’re going to be out of your typical routine. So what types of actions are you not willing to participate in, in order to support your health and well-being?

Maybe you won’t:

• Consume any alcohol
• Eat foods you’re sensitive to
• Indulge in refined sugar
• Stay up too late
• Skip your daily 30-minute workout
• Dismiss your meditation practice

For me, it’s that I won’t be eating on the road while travelling to visit family. I find when I eat on the road, I feel forced to make food choices that aren’t in alignment with my body.

Whether the food is greasy, contains animal products (I’m a vegan), my food sensitivities, or isn’t transparent about it’s ingredients… whenever I eat out on the road I feel bloated, uncomfortable, and usually end up with a stomach ache — which is the absolute opposite of how I want to feel when visiting family out of town that really I don’t get to see very often!

Now, that’s not to say that this is the best option for you! Life is a constant stream of choices. So, before you write your own, ‘never evers’, be sure to set a standard that makes sense for you and your lifestyle. Don’t be afraid to create your own formula and be your own expert about what works for you and what doesn’t.

In doing this, you are standing your ground by taking full ownership for these choices, and doing your best to support your overall health and well-being!

Speaking of standing your ground…

When you’re staying true to your ‘never evers’, it’s equally as important to get good at saying, ‘No’.

Get Good at Saying ‘No’.

This is absolutely the time of year where we tend to think of others, and put their needs before our own. Which can be a very kind and generous thing to do!

However, it’s equally as important for you to know your own limits when it comes to what you will and won’t tolerate this season.

Now that’s not to say that saying, ‘No’ comes easy. It can be tricky. Especially with family around the holidays who have set particular expectations. But, just because you’re with your family, that doesn’t mean you need to morph into a different version of yourself to suit their needs.

You’re absolutely allowed to say ‘No’.

The more you do it, the more they’ll catch on, and the easier it will be. If anyone does give you a hard time around it, or take it personally, often times this has more to do with them then it does with you.

In the end, remember saying ‘No’, is a healthy habit, and can be one of the best ways to practice self-love.

Speaking of self-love…

What does creating your list of ‘Never Evers’ have to do with Self-Love?

When you respect and value taking care of yourself, you set a powerful example to everyone else around you during this season. By not making excuses to ignore everything you know, to simply please or accomodate others… you are ultimately taking a stand for love!

When we support, honour, and care for ourselves it then makes it way more likely that we will do the same to respect, support and give back to family, community, and our environment.

When you put your needs first, you will feel grounded and have much more love and joy to share with those around you. And after all, that’s really what the holidays are all about, right?

Do Your Best

So even though the holidays can bring on heaps of external pressures, it is important to remember that you always have a choice to stay in alignment with what works for you by being clear on what your ‘never evers’ are this holiday season.

It’s okay to carve out some extra time to rest, hit a hot yoga class before dinner, or say no to dessert.

Just do your best, and remain gentle with yourself, with the understanding that every mindful choice you make does contribute to you setting your own standard of the life you want to live!

Now I’d love to hear from you:  What are your top 3 ‘never-evers’, and how do you plan to implement them this holiday season? Let us know in the comments below.