Healthy Holiday Tips for Preparing for Surgery
Healthy, Happy, and Human: Navigate Surgery During the Holidays with Heart
As the holidays approach, the season of sparkle, stuffing, and social swirl can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re preparing for surgery or recovering from one. This time of year often brings pressure to be everywhere, eat everything, and say yes to everyone. But supporting your body for surgery doesn’t mean missing out. It means choosing what helps you heal.
My role as a surgical health coach focuses on the whole person. Your nutrition, stress levels, sleep, movement, and social environment all play a role in how your body prepares for surgery and how smoothly you recover. The holidays don’t have to be a setback to surgery recovery. With a few simple shifts, you can enjoy the season and still keep your health on track.
Keep reading below for some supportive, realistic ways to stay grounded, nourished, and centered this holiday season.
A full holiday table can still fit into your plan when you’re preparing for surgery during the holidays. It’s all about steady energy, mindful portions, and choosing what helps you heal.
8 Tips for Preparing for Surgery During the Holidays
1. Snack Smart Before You Go: Balanced blood sugar is one of the most supportive things you can offer your body before or after surgery. Eating a protein-rich snack like a hard boiled egg, handful of almonds, greek yogurt, or a protein smoothie before events helps stabilize your energy, reduce inflammation, and keep your system from being overwhelmed by holiday foods. Think of it as setting your body up to feel steady instead of shaky. This small tip can make a big difference when it comes to nutrition for surgery and recovery.
2. Choose a Smaller Plate: Mindful eating isn’t about restriction. However, it’s helpful when you’re focusing on preparing for surgery or healing after surgery. It’s about tuning into how your body feels. Using a smaller plate helps you enjoy the foods you love without pushing your digestion too far, something especially important when your body is preparing for healing or already doing the work of recovery.
3. Move Your Body Gently: If you’re preparing for surgery, gentle movement like walking, stretching, or light strengthening can help support circulation, build resilience, and settle your nervous system. This isn’t about pushing hard. It’s about listening to your body without pushing past your limits.
If you’re recovering after surgery, follow your medical team’s guidance, but try to fit in small, approved movements early in the day. Morning motion helps ease stiffness, lower stress, and bring back a sense of routine before the day gets busy or fatigue sets in. Moving early also keeps it from getting lost in the holiday shuffle.
4. Protect Your Peace: Your nervous system is central to both surgical prep and recovery. Over scheduling and pushing yourself too hard can elevate stress levels, slow healing, or leave you exhausted. Choose the gatherings that truly bring connection, and politely decline the ones that feel like too much.
5. Prioritize Sleep: Sleep is one of the most powerful healing tools you have. It affects pain levels, immune function, inflammation, and your overall surgical recovery timeline. Try to guard your sleep window, even during holiday chaos. A consistent wind-down routine can make a big difference.
6. Sip with Intention: Alcohol affects sleep, hydration, inflammation, and tissue healing. If you choose to drink, pace yourself and alternate with water. Better yet, try a festive alcohol-free drink so your body can stay focused on healing instead of recovery from a late night.
7. Find Joy in Connection: Emotional well-being is a core part of functional health coaching and surgery recovery support. Laughing and connecting with loved ones helps regulate your nervous system, which in turn can lower pain levels, improve your mood and speed recovery from surgery.
8. Ditch the Guilt: Guilt and stress affect your body more than a slice of pie ever will. Enjoying holiday foods without shame helps your digestion, your mood, and your overall sense of balance. Remember: staying healthy during the holidays isn’t about perfection. It’s about caring for yourself in ways that support your healing.
Supporting Your Surgery Recovery During the Holidays
Preparing for or recovering from surgery during the holidays doesn’t mean you have to sit on the sidelines. It means choosing practices that keep your body supported and your nervous system steady. Surgical health coaching is about helping you navigate real life with intention, compassion, and tools that work.
May this season bring nourishment, rest, and small moments of joy. You don’t have to do everything. You just need to do what helps your body heal and your heart feel at ease.
Cheers to a holiday season that supports your recovery every step of the way.
If you want more personalized support as you prepare for surgery or navigate recovery, you can book a coaching call with me. I’ll help you create a plan that fits your body, your timeline, and your life.
