With the holidays upon us, many are gearing up to celebrate the season, but some people, including seniors and caregivers are finding themselves suffering from a case of the holiday blues. For these individuals, it can be hard to recognize and focus on the joy of the season. These tips can help them get through it:
1. Surround yourself with people – even if you don’t have family or friends around that you can spend time with, do join other social events taking place in your community
2. Volunteer – no matter what’s happening in your life, you’ll feel great when you volunteer and give back to those in need
3. Join a support group – sometimes it’s not easy to talk to family about the emotions you’re struggling with, so join a support group that allows you to share your feelings
4. Don’t put pressure on yourself – it’s okay if you don’t feel like celebrating over the holidays, don’t push yourself. Get involved with those things that make you happy, and don’t get down on yourself if you don’t feel joyful
5. Avoid alcohol – alcohol can depress your mood, so even though the wine and eggnog is flowing over the holidays, stick to the non-alcoholic stuff!
6. Know the signs of depression and seek treatment – the holiday blues are one thing, but you also need to recognize depression and get help
One of the most challenging things to balance when caregiving for a loved one is trying to balance work, children, your social life, and all the responsibilities that come with the territory of home care. I remember at the time that I was caregiving for my father, I was dealing with a spouse in Iraq, raising two children and a dog, work, and running a household. To say I was stressed out is an understatement!
To help one cope, here are some tips for avoiding and managing caregiver stress from the experts on the Home Instead Senior Care Advisory Board:
* Work out
* Meditate
* Ask for help
* Take a break
* Eat well
* Take care of yourself
* Indulge
* Support
I realize that when you see these tips at times, it’s all easier said than done. If you start to put yourself as a priority, and just make a little time every day to do something for you, the pay off will be amazing for both you and your senior.
“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.”
- Lucille Ball
With the holidays upon us, many are gearing up to celebrate the season, but some people, including seniors and caregivers are finding themselves suffering from a case of the holiday blues. For these individuals, it can be hard to recognize and focus on the joy of the season. These tips can help them get through it: