Endo-Friendly Christmas Activities

Christmas is a time for fun and festivities. But what if your period is due in the lead up to Christmas, when all the parties are happening? Or perhaps you’ve been experiencing a really rough patch with endometriosis recently and you’re just not up to the constant drinking and going out?

Over the years, I’ve had to adapt my social life to be a bit more endo-friendly, but that doesn’t mean I have to miss out on the Christmas fun!

So here are my go-to Christmas activities for those times when you need to take it a bit easier...

Pop-up cinema

I’m far from a movie buff (my taste is too poor to classify myself in that category!), but there’s not much I love more than a cosy Sunday afternoon spent at the movies. And what’s better than a Sunday (or any day?!) spent at the movies over Christmas?

Pop-up cinemas have been a really big social activity for a couple of years now, with film marathons, fancy dress, and even sing-a-long specials. Christmas wouldn’t really be the same without watching at least one Christmassy movie, and so embracing the Christmas spirit in this way is arguably more about getting festive than it is about endometriosis.

But, if it is endo-friendly activities you’re after, you get the bonus of being able to sit down, wearing comfy clothes (even getting to unbutton your trousers if the endo bloat is raging), and pretty much resting. You’re also able to wear all your pain relief gadgets – from your heat pack to your TENS machine (except maybe a bath and yoga for period pain!).

Christmas concerts

This year we’re going to see a classical music show of all the Christmas movies’ theme tunes, as well as a local Christmas music concert in the lead up. Christmas concerts have the same benefits as the movies – you get to sit down, and a lot of them have wheelchair access if you’re currently struggling with your mobility due to endometriosis. Again, you can wear heat packs and whatever else you need (my secret weapons are magnesium spray, essential oil stick-on packs, and a TENS machine).

Another wonderful thing about music is how powerful it is on the emotions. Christmas music can be incredibly uplifting, hopeful, and moving – which could be just what you need if you’re struggling with endometriosis around this time of year.

Christmas meals

This can be a tricky one, but with a bit of prep work, a Christmas meal can be an endo-friendly way to get everyone together for the festive period.

If you can, take the lead or at least collaborate with choosing the venue. There’s now lots of gluten-free and vegan restaurants (if dairy and glutne are some of your triggers) in most major cities, and lots of them are doing Christmas specials. If you’re friends aren’t that into the veg scene, choose a place that has an allergy-free menu, most restaurants are now catering for special dietary requirements, so call ahead or check their website for information.

If you really can’t find anywhere, can you and your friends do a get-together at your house or someone else’s, where everyone brings a dish or nibbles? That way, you won’t have to do all the work (if any!) and you can make sure there’s food that’s not going to trigger a flare-up.

A Christmassy night in

If making it out really isn’t possible this year, what about a Christmassy night in with your best friends? You could all order some Christmas PJs, choose some Christmas films, and bring along some festive snacks!

These types of nights usually come hand-in-hand with lots of sugar, but I’ve become a pro at making low-sugar or sugar-free treats, as my endometriosis is heightened by the inflammation sugar causes in my body. If you’re looking for some lower sugar and more anti-inflammatory snacks and drinks for your night in, I really like Minimalist Baker, Deliciously Ella, and One Part Plant. You can even tweak the recipes to make them a bit more suited to your needs too!