Light Up The Holidays

The holiday season can be a joyous time of year. But sometimes it can also pack on more stress, resentment or emotional hardship. As a caregiver, you give all year, how could you possibly give even more during the holiday season?

I wanted to share a tip from the AARP holiday tips page that I found very enlightening:

“Acknowledge all your emotions, including fears, frustrations and sadness, during the holidays. All those emotions are perfectly normal. Try to stay mindful, concentrating on what you are doing in any given moment, rather than letting your mind wander to your ever-growing to-do list. Stay focused on the positives: Think about what you can accomplish instead of what you can’t; celebrate what your loved ones can do, rather than mourning what they can no longer participate in; revel in the holiday joys you will experience, instead of missing those you’ll bypass; appreciate the help you are receiving rather than resenting those who aren’t supportive. Negative thinking actually activates your body’s stress response, so steer your mind elsewhere when you start down the slippery slope of negative thinking.”

Other fantastic holiday tips for caregivers from AARP found on this page include starting new traditions, keeping up with self-care and more.