After reading my post about how to reward yourself and celebrate your accomplishments without using food, a number of people brought up a related issue that is particularly relevant during the holiday season: how to socialize and not become a hermit when you aren’t interested in a lot of social eating and are trying not to overindulge?
Here are fifteen ways to get together with others that aren’t centered around food or eating. Consider these ideas as you consider alternatives to the holiday cookie exchange or the annual book club holiday dessert night. Remember, if you aren’t spending money on food, you may have resources available for other indulgences.
Fifteen ways to get together with others that aren’t centered around food or eating:
1. Go to a movie. If you don’t buy popcorn, you can probably afford to go at least twice as often.
2. Attend a football game, hockey game, or other sporting event.
3. Get outdoors—walk, hike, cross country ski.
4. Have a scrapbooking, quilting, or other crafting get-together.
5. Play games—chess, poker, board games. Have a game night.
6. Go Christmas caroling.
7. Rent movies and watch them together.
8. Get together with friends to complete your holiday cards or to wrap gifts.
9. Go shopping.
10. Have a spa day—either at a spa or throw your own home spa party. Some massage therapists will come to you.
11. Get a group together to tour an exhibit at a local museum.
12. Create an event to support a charitable cause, do something helpful for someone in need, rally around a political cause, or something else you are passionate about.
13. Go bowling.
14. Investigate local theater.
15. Go ice skating.
Start creating your own list. It gets easier over time. 🙂
Take good care,
