A Different Kind of Holiday Season: Staying Grounded with MS During the Holidays

Festive dinners have already begun.

Invitations are filling the calendar.

Tables are getting longer, plates are getting fuller, and somehow the season seems to arrive all at once.

Here we go.

The holiday season has a way of sweeping people up before they even realize it’s happening. One gathering becomes two. One indulgent meal turns into several. Routines soften, then quietly disappear, all in the name of celebration.

For people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), autoimmune disease, or chronic stress, this seasonal shift can have real physiological consequences.

And while celebration is important, abandoning the very practices that have supported your health all year rarely feels good afterward.

This article isn’t about restriction.

It’s not about perfection.

And it certainly isn’t about guilt.

It’s about staying the course — gently, intentionally, and realistically — during a season that tends to pull people off track.

Enjoyment and Physiology Can Coexist

Here’s something important to remember:

The body responds quickly to what we do — and it often takes longer to recover than to be disrupted.

One large, sugar-heavy, alcohol-rich meal can spike blood sugar, stress metabolism, increase inflammation, and dysregulate the nervous system in a matter of hours. Returning to balance, however, may take days — especially for those managing MS symptoms, fatigue, or inflammation.

That doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy the holidays.It means you enjoy them with awareness.

The goal is not avoidance — it’s support.

A Supportive Holiday Mindset for Living with MS

A different kind of holiday season starts with a simple reframe:

• Instead of abandoning healthy practices, carry them with you

• Instead of all-or-nothing thinking, aim for moderation and consistency

• Instead of reacting afterward, support the body proactively

This is where sustainable self-care for MS truly lives.

Nourishment, Not Overload

Holiday meals can still be joyful without being overwhelming.

Smaller portions allow you to enjoy a greater variety of foods without overloading digestion. Slowing down while eating gives your body time to signal fullness. Pausing between courses supports blood sugar balance, digestion, and energy regulation — all critical for people with MS.

When meals are heavier than usual, digestive enzymes can be a quiet but powerful ally, helping the body do what it’s already trying to do.

Later in the evening, something as simple as a castor oil pack may support the liver, lymphatic system, and detoxification pathways — particularly helpful during a season of richer foods and disrupted routines.

These are not “fixes.”They are forms of care.

Movement Is Medicine — Especially During the Holidays

When the environment is saturated with food, movement becomes even more important.

This doesn’t mean adding more pressure or intensity. It means staying connected to what already supports you:

• Walking after meals

• Gentle stretching

• Going to the gym

• Keeping your regular movement routine

  
  

Movement helps regulate blood sugar, supports digestion, reduces inflammation, and calms the nervous system. For those living with MS, it is one of the most reliable tools for maintaining stability during a demanding season.

Rituals Anchor the Nervous System

The holidays can be stimulating — socially, emotionally, and physiologically. Supporting your nervous system is not optional; it’s foundational for managing MS and chronic illness.

Simple, familiar rituals help keep you grounded:

• Morning routines

• Breathwork

• Quiet time

• Warm baths

• Time outdoors

  
  

These don’t need to be elaborate.

They need to be consistent.

Boundaries Are an Act of Self-Respect

Some gatherings nourish us. Others drain us.

Over time, I’ve come to realize that certain events create stress long before they even arrive — and long after they leave. If you live with MS, you may already know how deeply stress impacts your symptoms.

Honouring yourself may sometimes mean choosing differently.

That choice doesn’t need to come from anger or avoidance.

It can come from self-compassion.

Staying true to your healing journey is not selfish.

It’s responsible.And it often creates more peace than forcing yourself into situations that derail you year after year.

Staying the Course Through the Holidays

Staying connected to your health — even in the face of temptation — supports:

• Greater body awareness

• Better self-regulation

• Healthier habits

• A deeper connection to your physiology

  
  

The holiday season doesn’t erase this — unless you step away from it entirely.

A different kind of holiday season is one where you enjoy what matters, support your physiology, move your body, honour your boundaries, and remain connected to yourself.

That isn’t rigid.

It’s wise.

And for those living with MS, it’s powerful medicine.