The holidays can be a time to see friends and family, revisit long-held traditions, and create new memories. This time of year can also be filled with the stress of planning, meeting expectations, and making sure needs are met. This is especially true for caregivers.
If you’ve ever flown on an airplane, you know that before you take off the flight attendants go through the safety procedures. In their rehearsed speech, they always say, “in the event of a pressure change, oxygen masks will be available. Put on your own oxygen mask first before assisting others.” Even if you have young children, someone depending on you, put on your own oxygen mask first. Why? Because you cannot successfully help and care for others if you do not help and care for yourself.
The same is true for caregivers. Did you know that family caregivers are less likely to seek preventative healthcare and make time for self-care than non-caregivers? This means that individuals who are responsible for caring for others are not likely to care for themselves. This is understandable, because caring for someone else’s needs can be time consuming and demanding, but, as the flight attendants know, we cannot successfully care for others if we do not care for ourselves.
Studies show that caregivers report issues such as sleep deprivation, poor eating habits, failure to exercise, failure to stay in bed when sick, and failure to make and keep medical appointments for themselves. All of these can contribute to increased levels of stress and poor health, and that can result in a lower level of care for your loved one. All of these stress factors can increase around the holidays, an especially busy and stressful time of year.
If you are the caregiver of a loved one, try to take some time to care for yourself during the holidays so you can reduce stress and actually enjoy the time. Here are some small things you can do to take care of yourself this holiday season:
Take some quiet time. Whether it’s at the start of your day, before bedtime, or sometime in between, take a few minutes of quiet time for yourself. You can use this time to journal, listen to a guided meditation, read, go for a walk, or listen to soothing music. Whatever and whenever you choose, take some time just for you, even if it’s just a few minutes.
Plan some breaks for your loved one and yourself. The holidays can be busy! Schedule breaks in between activities so both you and your loved one can rest and reset before the next commitment.
Say no. It takes time and energy to care for a loved one. It’s important to know our limits and set boundaries to maintain our health and peace. It’s okay to tell people no when you don’t have the time or energy to attend another holiday gathering or prepare another dish.
However you are celebrating the holidays, I hope you take some time to care for yourself so you can enjoy the season.
