By Roz Jones
The holidays are a time for family, friends, and fun. But for caregivers, the holiday season can be a time of increased stress. If you’re providing care for an aging parent or loved one, you might be feeling overwhelmed by the thought of adding holiday parties and shopping to your already full plate.
Take a deep breath—you’re not alone. According to a survey by Home Instead Senior Care®, 64 percent of caregivers say they experience increased stress during the holidays. To help you stay sane during the next few weeks, we’ve put together a list of 10 tips for caregivers to help manage holiday stress. Last week we shared 5 tips to get you started with managing your holiday stresses. This week we will be covering 5 additional tips, to assist you with managing your holiday stress this holiday season.
Stick to a routine:
Maintaining a regular routine will help reduce stress and provide some sense of normalcy during what can be a hectic time of year.
Make time for exercise:
Exercise is a great way to relieve stress—try to fit in at least 30 minutes each day, even if it means getting up a little earlier or walking around the block while your loved one takes a nap.
Eat healthy:
When you’re busy, it’s easy to let healthy eating habits go by the wayside—but nutritious food will help you stay energized and focused throughout the day. Make sure to eat regular meals and snacks and avoid sugary foods that will give you a quick burst of energy followed by an inevitable crash.
Seek support:
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, seek out support from other caregivers or join a support group—sometimes it helps just knowing that you’re not alone in this journey.
Ask for help:
Don’t hesitate to ask family and friends for help—whether it’s watching your loved one so you can run some errands or simply lending an ear when you need someone to talk to, there’s no shame in asking for assistance when caring for an aging parent or loved one during the holidays (or any other time of year).
Caregiving is a daunting task and it can be especially difficult during the holiday season. Remember you are not alone! I hope these 10 tips will help you through this challenging time.
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1. YOU ARE NOT ALONE: The problems you face as a caregiver are experienced by other caregivers. Knowing that you’re not alone can be comforting.
2. Tools and Resources: Find caregiver stress management tools and gain perspective from other caregiver’s experiences.
3. LEARN TO: Ask for help, accept help when it is offered, and acknowledge yourself on this caregiving journey. Hear from experts on how to balance caregiving responsibilities by taking care of your needs and involving others to help manage the natural stress and isolation of being a caregiver.
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