As we move into the magic, joy, busyness, and stress of the holiday season, based on where they are in their journey, cancer patients and caregivers may feel greater intensity and challenges. What are some tips for cancer patients and caregivers to reduce the stress, better take care of themselves, and enjoy the season?
Choose how you want to spend your time
Your holiday season may have a lot of flare and functions. Writing holiday cards, shopping for holiday gifts, decorating your home, hosting holiday events, and attending holiday parties might be on your list. If you cannot do some or any of it, that’s okay. You don’t need to do everything and even anything.
Recognize and remember that it’s your time. Spend your time wisely. People often forget or never learned it. The experience of cancer can illuminate the preciousness of time. During the holiday season, think and choose what you want to do. That includes who you spend your holiday season with and where.
Ask for help
Be mindful and ask for what you need through close family members and friends to do specific tasks and even organize your support. For the holiday season, consider using your support in preparing for decorations, meals, talking through the experience, deciding what to do and not to do, and receiving reminders that it’s okay to change your plans when you suddenly don’t have time and/or energy.
Recognize and support emotions you feel
Cancer patients and caregivers may feel intense emotions around the holiday season. Some traditions no longer feel the same way. While parts of life are always changing, cancer amplifies previous challenges and adds new ones, including a sense of uncertainty for some people affected by cancer. Through the intensity of the holiday season, recognize and support emotions you feel in healthy ways. That can include support you give to yourself and other people.
Rethink previous holiday gift plans if you have financial stress
Cancer care is often expensive. The money stress can feel extremely overwhelming, especially with debt from cancer bills. Do not feel like you need to spend money on holiday gifts if you don’t have the money. If you enjoy making gifts, consider creating what you enjoy for specific people that you love.
Rest with some silence and stillness
The treasured time of the holiday season offers wonderful activity for some people, although not everyone enjoys all of it. Whoever you are, give yourself some rest. Winter is the season to rest within to restore, recover, repair, reconnect, and regenerate. Spend time in the holiday with silence and stillness for your own support and also to feel the true essence of the season.
Give yourself self-care
Whether it is the holiday season or any time of the year, always remember self-care. Think about what that means to you. Give yourself those gifts during the holiday season and always continue supporting yourself. You are worth it.
Remember that the exact coping during the holiday season and anytime depends on each individual and where they are traveling in their journey. Do what feels best for you and always maintain or return to self-care.
You can also learn more tips in Social Tips for People with Cancer and Self-Care Tips for Caregivers.
What are you doing to take care of yourself during the holiday season? |