Maintaining ADHD strategies during the Christmas break

Before I get started with the main blog post I want to be brutally honest with you, I wrote this blog post two weeks ago when I was feeling super positive and was on track with everything. What followed was a weekend drinking alcohol, followed by a week of illness, followed by a weekend drinking alcohol! Which ultimately led to me falling off my usual routine big time!!!

The irony is not lost on me though and I think this is a really good opportunity for me to share with you what I am now doing to get back on track. Because that's the reality of the struggles of maintaining good strategies to manage ADHD symptoms at such a busy time of year with all of the temptations of throwing it all out the window to party and have fun. However, there's still time before the end of the year for me to recover and put back in place some strategies to make sure that I start the New Year on a positive and not trying to recover from a car crash of a Christmas!

So, here's the actual blog post with an edited ending to share with you what I'd hope to do versus what I've actually done and will be doing in the lead up to NYE....

I think the winter holidays can be a difficult time for most people but especially for those of us with ADHD. Often this time of year means we're out of our normal routine surrounded by the temptation of alcohol & sweet and savoury treats that we know are going to affect our mental and physical health negatively.  All whilst having to either spend prolonged periods of time with family members that we probably find difficult to get on with or feeling completely isolated if we've chosen to remove ourselves from toxic environments. Sounds fun hey?

Whilst the TV adverts and holiday movies depict serene family scenes I know only too well how far removed from reality this can really be for some of us. Last year following a difficult break up at the start of the year I made the decision to remove myself completely for Christmas 2024 to avoid a lonely Christmas for one and took myself off to Barbados for 5 weeks. Overall, this was a great decision and I know I'm super lucky to have had that as an option as I have family out there, so I could stay on my own in a family bungalow for the fraction of the cost of a hotel. It was a super basic trip as I was pretty broke and I'm still yet to finish paying off my credit card for the trip that I now see in hindsight I couldn't really afford. Obviously being on a paradise island was amazing but the basic element of the trip is what I think was so helpful. All I focused on was running on the beach, working out with filled up 5 litre water bottles, and fasting.

Everything was great until I had to come back to the UK at the end of January and normal life and then the biggest meltdown I've had in the past 7 years hit me. I was super depressed and I questioned everything about my life, I couldn't find the motivation to work out, the weather was depressing and gloomy and I got ill. Within a matter of weeks I felt like I'd lost all the fitness and wellness I'd gained over the winter holidays, so had I really cracked how to do Christmas the right way?

Luckily for me, around the same time, my Access to work application got approved after 6 months of waiting and I was able to start seeing my coach regularly every 2 weeks. This was an absolute game changer and I've been able to spend the rest of the year honing and refining my strategies to get to the best place I've ever been in.

But...in the back of my mind I'm hyper aware that here's that horrible winter period again! I'm determined not to lose all the hardwork I've put in all year.  I definitely can't afford a solo trip to Barbados this year so I'm planning to visit family in Jersey in the Channel islands. This is going to be a great way to connect with family there that I haven't seen properly for years which will be great, but the impending change in routine is making me nervous. 

So here's what I plan to be doing before, during and after to try and maintain calm days and a brighter start to the new year....(this was the plan before my partying binges and illness 🙃)

Before:

I've been maintaining regular workouts 4 times a week

• Monday - Yoga

• Wednesday - Short run

• Friday - Weights

• Sunday - Long run

I normally drop off running when it gets colder so I've been using the Runna app and a training plan to help keep me motivated

I've made sure I've got thermal running trousers so running in the cold isn't such a shock to the system

I was consistent with this right up until the weekend I went out and the following week when I got sick so I didn't do any training at all!

This is what I've done and will do to get fully back on track before I go away:

• Monday - Yoga

• Wednesday - I missed this run due to drinks again after work Tuesday night so I did a brisk 40 minute walk instead!

• Friday - To get back into running again I will do the run that I missed on Wednesday.

• Saturday - I'll do my weights workout in the morning before heading out to visit family during the day and for a friends birthday in the evening

• Sunday - I know I won't be in a fit state to do a long run so will replace my long run with a long 6 mile walk.
  

During:

I've checked my calendar to make sure I know what days will work best to get all my workouts in.

During my trip away I'll take my running trainers and will do my two runs whilst I'm away.

• Monday - I can't take my weights with me so I'll get my weights workout in before I go away, it's easier to do a Yoga workout when travelling

• Wednesday - Short run

• Friday - Yoga

• Sunday - Long run

After:

When I return from my trip I plan to continue with my usual routine.

I've signed up to a half marathon in March 2026 to give me that continued focus and motivation at the start of the year

Planning ahead and checking your calendar is key to being realistic about what is achievable at this time of year. It's better to be flexible and find a way to maintain some kind of consistency rather than coming to a complete stop and trying to motivate yourself to start from scratch again come January

I've got this blog post and my coach to help keep me accountable. What are the things you'll be doing to help you stay on track? If you want some inspiration or support, send me an email at LaurenReganCoaching@gmail.com or follow me on Strava so we can keep each other accountable.