What do you wish for most this holiday season? Peace on earth? Good health for your loved ones? Financial security? What if you could eliminate stress and simply enjoy the holiday season? What a gift that would be!
Caregiving can be overwhelming any time of year, but the holiday season can send your stress level off the charts. There are ways, however, to alleviate holiday stress and truly enjoy the beauty, warmth, and love of the season. Our care experts recommend the following small steps for managing holiday stress that can make a big difference.
Be open and honest. Forget about putting on a mask to cover up what’s really going on in your life. Let close friends and family in on the struggles your loved one is facing and how it’s impacting you. Sharing from the heart with those you trust to listen and understand is an incredible relief in and of itself.
Modify traditions. If you have always been the one to host large family holiday gatherings, consider passing the torch to someone else. If the thought of lugging out each and every holiday decoration is overwhelming, select several of your favorite items and leave the rest in the attic this year. Find ways to simplify and establish new traditions that place less pressure on you.
Downsize gifting. Shopping for the perfect gift for everyone on your extended family and friends list can consume quite a lot of your holiday time (and money!). There are lots of fun ways to simplify the process. For instance, have each family member choose a name and purchase a gift for that person only. Then plan a potluck dinner with each person bringing a favorite dish and exchanging gifts.
Intentionally focus on the positives. Gratitude is a great tool for changing your outlook and mood. Create a simple gratitude journal in which you record what you’re most thankful for, and spend some time each day reading through and reflecting on your list, adding to it as new thankful thoughts arise.
Enlist help. Caregiving should never be a solo endeavor. Taking regular breaks for self-care benefits both the person in your care and yourself. Let family and friends know exactly what they can do to help, and then don’t hesitate to accept that support. Our caregivers are always available to help as well!
How Can Home Care Help With Managing Holiday Stress?
Our caregivers are alleviating stress for families like yours every day – during the holiday season and throughout the year! Our home care services are highly customized to allow seniors and their family members to choose the tasks they would like help with, while maintaining what they prefer to do themselves.
Contact The Care Company at (416) 422-2273 or reach out to us online for a free consultation to discover how we can partner with you in caring for someone you love in Toronto, Scarborough, Markham, and the surrounding areas. Then take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy every precious moment with those you love!