How to Survive Candy Temptations in Any Work Setting

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Read the Transcript:

How to Survive Candy Temptations in Any Work Setting

Hi there, welcome back to the Eating Habits for Life podcast! Today’s episode is all about handling candy temptations that come up around Halloween, but these tips can actually apply year-round. After Halloween, we have Christmas candy. After Christmas, we have Valentine’s Day chocolate. And after Valentine’s Day, you can still often find candy in almost any office setting throughout certain points.

Whether you’re working in a healthcare setting, an office, or even from home, there’s a good chance leftover Halloween candy will be hanging around for a while. And of course, other candy situations the rest of the year. So, I’ll be sharing several tips to help you feel in control and make choices that align with your goals. That way, you’ll feel confident you can survive candy temptations in any work setting.

Quick personal story: When I first started working as a surgical Physician Assistant, I definitely struggled with that afternoon sweets temptation. I was more of a baked goods person, but the more stress I had, the more I started being tempted by candy. By 2 p.m., I’d be digging into the peanut M&Ms that always seemed to be in the office.

But after making some key changes, I reached a point where I could be tired or stressed by 5 p.m., and I’d still walk right by that candy, treating it like it was part of the background—just as ordinary as the coffeemaker in the break room. Today, I’ll share the strategies that helped me get there so you can, too.

When Candy Surrounds You at Work

Let’s start out by talking about why candy can feel so irresistible in these environments, especially after Halloween. By the end of a long day—whether it’s full of patient care, meetings, or a busy schedule at home—our energy and willpower are usually running low, and that’s when candy can seem especially tempting as a quick pick-me-up.

For me, candy was everywhere after Halloween in the hospital. You’d find it in the medical assistants’ area, in the nurse’s lounge in the OR, in the surgeon’s lounge, and up on the floors behind the nurses’ stations. For anyone in an office setting, it’s likely bowls of candy are in the break room, reception, or at someone’s desk. If you’re working from home, it could be right there in the pantry.

At first, you might feel like you have to battle with yourself every time you see it. But with time, and by setting up the right habits, that candy can start to blend into the background. It can eventually become something you pass by without a second thought, much like the coffeemaker or that pile of paperwork on your desk. And that’s the goal: for candy to become just another object in the environment—not something you have to focus on or debate about each time.

The Science Behind Willpower and Why it’s Harder Later in the Day

You might think you don’t have willpower, but you do. Everyone has willpower, but it is a limited resource in the sense that it ebbs and flows and tends to feel lower toward the end of the day when fatigued. Studies have shown that it tends to deplete as we make decisions and handle responsibilities throughout the day. Termed willpower depletion.

If your day is filled with choices, tasks, and challenges—especially in high-stress jobs like healthcare or demanding office roles—it’s natural for your self-control to run low by the end of the day. Before I worked on transforming my eating habits, I’d be reaching into that candy bowl around 2 p.m. without a second thought.

But over time, as I implemented new strategies and shifted my relationship with food, I noticed that even by 5 p.m., no matter how tired or stressed I was, I could walk by it as though it wasn’t even there. And once you reach that point, it’s such a freeing feeling—you no longer feel like candy is calling your name every time you see it. It’s just part of the scenery.

Strategies for Handling Candy Temptation in Any Work Setting

Let’s get into the strategies that will help you create this shift. These are the same ones that worked for me, and they can work whether you’re in a busy workplace, at home, or anywhere else. So my lovely listeners, here’s how to survive candy temptations in any work setting.

Reframe Your Mindset:

Tell yourself, “I can have the candy if I want it, but is this really the energy boost I’m looking for?” This simple question can help you shift focus from the quick fix to a choice that will make you feel better in the long run.

Take candy off the pedestal:

This was the big one for me, more so for baked goods though, but easily applied to candy. I learned to see baked goods and candy as ‘just there.’ It wasn’t a temptation or something I ‘couldn’t have.’ It became something that was simply part of the environment—just like the coffee machine or the printer. I practiced this every time I saw it. And eventually, I got to a point where I could walk right by, not even tempted.

Pack a ‘Pick-Me-Up’ Snack:

Having a go-to snack for the afternoon can help so much. Try bringing something that will satisfy your hunger and give you lasting energy, like Greek yogurt with nuts, an apple with almond butter, or a piece of dark chocolate if you want something sweet. This way, you have an option that leaves you feeling good rather than on a sugar rollercoaster.

Hydrate First:

Thirst is often mistaken for hunger, so the next time you feel drawn to the candy bowl, try drinking a glass of water first. This can often reduce cravings and help you make a more mindful choice.

Wait 10 Minutes Before Giving In:

Cravings can often pass if we give them a moment. Take a quick break, maybe step outside or do something active, and often the urge will subside on its own.

Plan for a Treat Later:

If you truly want a candy fix, make a plan to enjoy it later in the day, maybe with a meal. This approach lets you have a treat on your terms instead of feeling like it’s controlling you.

It moves you from impulsively eating the candy, to intentionally planning it for later, which uses the part of the brain that can override the habit part of the brain, if you develop the skill to do so. Super important and effective skill, which is why this is a key skill I help my clients develop. And it helps in all areas of life. Amazing.

When Candy Becomes Just Park of the Background

It’s such a powerful feeling to walk by that candy without it even registering as something you need to think about. This can be a reality for you too. You can get to a point where the candy bowl blends in with everything else. It’s just ‘there’—not something you need to make a choice about every time you see it.

Creating this type of relationship with candy doesn’t mean you can’t ever have it. In fact, it makes the times you do choose to enjoy it that much more satisfying. You’re no longer reacting to the sight of it; you’re choosing based on what you genuinely want.

So it feels quite empowering, makes candy and other sweets more enjoyable, and you get to survive candy temptations in any work setting, plus any home or social setting too!

Encouragement for Long-Term Success to Break Bad Eating Habits

I just want to make sure you understand that building habits and breaking bad eating habits takes time, so if you have a day where you reach for the candy, it’s okay. Treat it as a chance to learn about your patterns and adjust.

Eventually, it becomes second nature, and walking by that candy bowl without thinking twice will just feel normal—like it’s part of the background.

I hope these strategies empower you to make choices that serve you, whether you’re in the office, at home, or in a healthcare setting. You deserve to feel in control and at peace with your choices.

And if you’re ready to break free from bad eating habits and feel healthier, proud of yourself instead of frustrated and ashamed, and confident instead of feeling weak or out of control, I can help you.

Book your free consultation today and together, we’ll see what exactly you’re struggling with, why, and I’ll share how exactly I can help you, like what the exact path would look like to get you where you want to be.

To book your free consultation, just visit the link in the episode description. Take care and I’ll talk with you next week.