Unwrap the Gift of Holiday Peace: Stress-Relief Tips for Caregivers
These stress-relief tips for caregivers give everyone in the family a little relief and make the holidays much more fun.
What do you wish for most this holiday season? Good health for your family members? Financial security? Peace on earth? What if you could eliminate stress and simply take pleasure in the holiday season? What a gift that would be!
Caregiving can feel overwhelming any time of the year, however the holiday season can send your stress level off the charts. There are ways, however, to ease holiday stress and truly take pleasure in the warmth, beauty, and love of the season. Our care experts recommend the following stress-relief tips for caregivers that can make a big difference.
- Downsize gifting. Searching for the perfect gift for everyone on your extended friends and family list can consume lots of your holiday time (and money!). There are lots of fun ways to simplify the process. For example, 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.
- Be open and honest. Forget about putting up a facade 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 just how it is impacting you. Sharing from the heart with those you trust to listen and understand is an extraordinary relief in and of itself.
- Alter 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 hauling out each and every holiday decoration is overwhelming, choose several of your favorite items and leave the remainder in the attic this year. Find strategies to simplify and establish new traditions that place less pressure on you.
- Intentionally concentrate on the positives. Gratitude is an excellent tool for changing your outlook and mood. Create a simple gratitude journal in which you record what you are most thankful for, and invest some time every day reading through and reflecting on the 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 friends and family know specifically what they can do to help, and then do not hesitate to accept that support. Our caregivers are always available to help as well!
How Can Home Care Help?
Our caregivers are alleviating stress for families like yours each and every day—during the holiday season and throughout the year! Our services are highly customized to allow older adults and their loved ones to select the tasks they would like help with, while maintaining what they prefer to do themselves.
For more stress-relief tips for caregivers, email or call CareWorks Health Services at (949) 859-4700. We can also set up a complimentary consultation to demonstrate how we can partner with you in caring for someone you love in Laguna Woods, Seal Beach, Newport Beach, or the surrounding areas. Then take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy every precious moment with those you love!