How to Enjoy a Meaningful & Simple Holiday Season

Tips for Tired Caregivers

For caregivers the busy holiday season can be one of additional labor, lost routines, and financial stress. Caregivers have already given so much throughout the year. We want to help them focus on their own emotions and needs, so they can enjoy the holiday season and avoid total burnout. Here are a few ways to approach the holiday season with meaningfulness and simplicity at the forefront:

To start, rest:

• Enroll your loved one in a respite care program at a senior living community to give yourself a day (or even a week) to reset.

• Utilize family in town who can take over for a weekend.

• Hire help with cleaning, cooking, or other daily tasks to take a load off your plate.

Determine what matters most to you and your loved one:

• What decorations are most meaningful to you?

• What special traditions do you enjoy most?

• Who are your favorite family members to spend time with at the holidays?

• What are your favorite holiday dishes?

• Partake in these things because they are what make the holidays special.

Simplify everything else to what you can handle:

• Send holiday cards to a select few.

• Choose a few meaningful decorations to set out.

• Let family travel to you.

• Start new traditions that you can handle.

• Switch to potluck style for the holiday menu.

• Shop online and take advantage of Cyber Monday or Prime Day sales.

• Participate in a Secret Santa, so you don’t have to buy presents for everyone.

Do not engage in stress factors:

• If you must see family members that exhaust you, plan for short encounters or an exit strategy.

• You do not need to buy everyone a present, even if they give you one.

Self-care comes first:

• What matters most is that you are with your loved one for the holiday season. Any additional labor or financial stress on top of caregiving is not worth your time. This is a time of joy. Do what you can to let it feel like that for yourself.