The holidays can be a time of mixed emotion and extra stress for caregivers. There are happy celebrations, special traditions, and wonderful memories. But there can also be unpleasant family members, grief for those who have passed, and an overwhelming to do list. In the midst of all of this, self care may sound like a silly concept, but it truly is an effective way to reduce stress, improve well-being and help you find some joy in these challenging situations. When you feel better, everyone around you will also benefit from that positive energy.Here are some tips to help you care for yourself this holiday season:• Make time for yourself. It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of extra tasks and hassles that the holidays bring. Added on top of regular caregiving responsibilities, it can really amp up the stress. To counter that, make it a priority to take a little time for yourself to sit quietly, relax, and recharge.• Know your priorities. There are dozens of things going on during the holidays, but it’s impossible to do everything without running yourself ragged. So, take a moment to consider – which are the most important to you? What gives you the most meaning and fulfillment, that helps you prioritize activities, events, and even people.• Take care of yourself during difficult family interactions. The holiday season often means spending time with people you may not see the rest of the year. That can mean spending time with family or others who criticize our caregiving, don’t help out, or are unsupportive or unkind. Since you can’t simply avoid these people, the best way t o protect yourself is to keep contact as minimal as possible and stay neutral and civil. This isn’t the time or place to hash out bigger issues or vent frustrations. That’s unlikely to accomplish your goal and the unpleasant interaction will only make you more stressed and angry. If you do have run-ins with unpleasant people, walk away as soon as you can and give yourself a little time to cool off and calm down before rejoining the group.• Make room for grief if you are missing someone who has passed away. The holidays can be tough when you are missing someone important to you. Give yourself permission to feel your emotions as they are and don’t feel obligated to participate in activities if the emotions ...
