Top Tips for Care Givers over Christmas
Christmas can be a challenging time for carers. On top of your everyday tasks, you now have the added pressure of planning and organising Christmas and all that goes with that, for you and your loved one.
All of these extra activities can be stressful and if you’re not careful can lead to exhaustion. To help you have a more enjoyable and hopefully relaxing Christmas we’ve put together some practical tips for preparing for Christmas. We hope you find them useful.
Scale Back
Forget about the expectations of what Christmas should be and what you’ve done in the past. A scaled back Christmas will make life easier, less stressful, and hopefully make it a more pleasurable experience.
Plan ahead
Spend a little time planning your Christmas and what needs to be done. You’ll feel more in control with a plan. Then tick off a little task each day, so you’re not trying to do it all at once.
Don’t compare
With social media & the internet it’s easy to compare your Christmas to that of others and want for something else, but this will rob you of the joy in your life. Remember that what people share on social media is often just a highlights reel of that person’s life. Instead focus on what you have and be grateful for this.
Learn to say ‘No’
You don’t have to say yes to all social interactions at Christmas. If you feel it’s too much for you and your loved one, then saying no will help stop you becoming overwhelmed. If you would still like to catch up with people, organise catch ups for the new year to spread it out.
Ask for Help
If you have family and friends then don’t be afraid to ask for help organising Christmas festivities. Most people will be happy to help. If you don’t have people you can call on then look for outside help. Get a cleaner in, order pre-prepared food, or if you need help with care for your loved one, call an in-home care companies such as us.
Remember what’s important
At the end of the day Christmas is about spending quality time with the ones you love. It doesn’t really matter if you have decorations, what you eat or what gifts you give. It’s also not about one particular day. It’s about spending time in the company of your loved ones.
Look after yourself!
It’s so easy to forget about yourself in the run up to Christmas and during festive celebrations. However, you need to be look after yourself in order to best look after your loved one. Here are a few strategies to help you do that:
Eat healthy meals.
This will give you the energy you need to get through the day and will make you feel good too.
Eat healthy snacks.
It’s so tempting at this time of year to eat biscuits & chocolate but these will make you feel lethargic. Swap them for fruit, nuts and seeds instead.
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
Set a timer on your phone to remind you if you’re prone to forgetting.
Take breaks.
Even if these are short, they’ll give you a chance to catch your breath and help you mentally.
Get outside.
Fresh air can be a great reset.
Do some exercise.
We all know that exercise is good for our physical and mental health, so try and squeeze some in where you can. Squats while waiting for the kettle to boil, a walk around the block or possibly an online exercise class.
Meditate
Meditation can be great way to switch off mentally. Insight Timer is a free App with hundreds of meditations of varying lengths. From 2 minutes to 10 minutes and beyond, you’re sure to find one that will fit into your schedule.
Read a book.
There’s nothing like immersing yourself in a good story to switch off from your to do list. Reading to your loved one is another way to incorporate this into your day.
We’d like to take this opportunity to recognise the amazing work you are doing looking after your loved one. We hope you have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!