Self-care at the Holidays for People Caring for Aging Loved Ones

Holidays bring joy and warmth into your lives but they can be daunting especially if you are taking care of your aging loved ones. Self-care is essential during holidays especially if you want to protect yourself from burning out.

Here’s how you can do that!

Make Time For Yourself:

Caregiving can be stressful and you should let yourself go a little. You need to understand that you have been doing an amazing job and you deserve a respite around the holidays. Try to make the most out of your time even if for a short period. Try to indulge yourself in activities that make you happy such as catching up with longtime friends, enjoying a glass of eggnog, go on a shopping spree, decorate a tree, or do whatever brings you peace because you deserve it.

Be Flexible

Holidays can be a daunting time especially if you are taking care of your aging loved ones. You may need to scale back on your plans and adjust your errands accordingly. To look on the bright side, you may have family over on the holidays that can give you a respite from some or all of your caregiving responsibilities. Try to be flexible with your routine to avoid burnout.

Give Yourself Credit

You need to understand that taking care of someone is a job not everyone can do. It can be difficult and rewarding in equal measure. You deserve a respite. Sit back, relax and enjoy your time of holiday. A peaceful mind is as important as a healthy body, recharge yourself on the holidays and you will see observable improvement in your daily life.

Have a Good Laugh

Laughter is the best therapy, taking care of your loved ones along with juggling other responsibilities can take a toll on your physical as well as mental health.  Take every opportunity to laugh into account, watch a movie, and catch up with old friends. Laughter often is the best medicine!

Cut Yourself Some Slack

With everything going on, it is perfectly alright if you have missed a couple of errands or messed up a couple of times-you are only human! You can take this time to sit back and realize where you went wrong rather than beating yourself up about it.

Share Your Responsibilities:

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It may seem like a hard thing to do but you can ask your family members or friends to help for a day or only an afternoon for that matter. You can share a meal or they can bring over coffee. Watch a sports game on tv or enjoy a holiday movie with your loved one. It doesn’t need to be complicated.

Understand Your Priorities:

One of the most important things you can do on a holiday is set your priorities straight. You should put off any unnecessary activities after the holidays and focus only on essential errands.

Self-care is an important aspect for someone who’s taking care of others and what’s better than holidays? Ideally, you should spend as much time as you can on your self-care. Airline flight attendants give the best life advice-put the oxygen mask on yourself or you won’t be able to help anyone around you.