The holidays are here. This has always been my favorite time of the year. But even with all the joy that comes with them, the holidays can also be a stressful time. And when you have a chronic illness, stress can lead to flare-ups that can quickly put a stop to your holiday cheer.
It can be easy to overdo it during the holiday season which can ultimately cause more pain and fatigue than usual when you’re chronically ill. No one wants to spend their holidays in pain so it’s important to have a good plan for surviving the holidays with the least amount of stress possible. Below are some ways to help ensure less stress and more joy this holiday season.
Know your limits and hold firmly to them.
You know your own body best. You probably have a pretty good idea of what you can and cannot do without causing a big flare in symptoms. Be mindful of this throughout the next few months.
You may need to modify some holiday plans to best suit your needs. For example, if going to multiple houses on Christmas Day is too much for you, try to work out a plan where you see different family members on different days so you don’t have to push yourself too much on the actual holiday.
You may need to modify your plans even more this year in particular. Because of Covid, people are being advised not to have big family gatherings. If you’re part of the more vulnerable population, don’t feel bad about turning down large holiday get-togethers this year. Your health and safety is the most important thing.
Offer to have a Zoom party so you can still see your family and friends but in a more safe way. Remember that this pandemic will not last forever, and hopefully, things will be back to normal by next year.
Give yourself plenty of time to buy and wrap gifts.
If you can, start now. The more you get done ahead of time, the less stress you’ll be putting on yourself closer to the holidays. Take advantage of online shopping so that you don’t have to run around from store to store.
And try not to save all of your wrapping for right before Christmas in case you happen to have a flare-up before the holiday. Pace yourself and try to do a little at a time over the month of December.
Plan your answers to possible questions in advance.
If you’ll be seeing relatives you haven’t seen in a while, typical questions about how you’ve been and what you’ve been up to are bound to come up. If you have a chronic condition or maybe can’t work right now, answering these questions can be tricky. Planning your response can make them a whole lot easier to answer.
For example, when people ask me how I’ve been feeling, it can be awkward to admit that I haven’t been doing well if that happens to be the case. It can take the conversation in a negative direction and people often don’t know how to respond to that. So I try to come up with a planned answer to this question that is honest but still positive.
Be mindful of what you’re using to fuel your body.
If you have food sensitivities and are celebrating at someone else’s house, offer to bring something that you will be able to eat. There’s bound to be lots of food over the holidays that may not agree with you, so bringing a dish that you can eat will ensure that you have something you can enjoy and you’ll also feel like you’re contributing by making something.
I don’t eat gluten, so I always make a gluten-free dish or two to bring to my in-laws’ house. Other people usually enjoy what I make and most don’t even know it’s gluten free!
Try to stick to your usual diet as strictly as you can, even though you may be tempted by all the good holiday food. Don’t forget how eating the wrong things can exacerbate your symptoms. You want to feel your best so you can enjoy your holidays and sticking to your diet can help ensure you feel the best you possibly can.
Make a list of the events that are most important to you.
When you have a chronic illness, you may not have the energy or feel well enough to do all the holiday things. Prioritize what is most important to you and plan to do these things when you’re feeling your best.
Remember to incorporate lots of rest into your plans so that you don’t overdo it and wind up spending the majority of your holiday season missing out on what you really love.
Be kind to yourself and others.
The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone, even the healthiest of people. Stress often leads to a flare-up in symptoms when you have a chronic condition. Be kind to yourself if you’re having a flare and remind yourself that it’s okay if you can’t do it all or need to rest.
Remember that other folks may be stressed out as well so be kind to others and extend them grace whenever possible. And don’t forget to practice gratitude this holiday season. Being thankful for the people and things in your life only helps bring more joy into your holidays.
You can have a wonderful holiday season even if you have a chronic condition. Being mindful of your limitations, extending grace to yourself and others, and planning as much as you can in advance can all help to make sure your holidays are as enjoyable as possible.
Food is such a big one for me. Visiting holidays are so challenging. It’s nice staying home this year.