Ah, the Holiday Season is right around the corner!
Holiday music is already. playing in stores, Halloween is over, and Thanksgiving is upon us. ‘Tis the season of expectations, parties, and all things pressure. So many people experience increased pain and stress over the holidays.
The problem with all of this is the expectation of making the holidays perfect. This unrealistic expectation can leave you running in circles and accomplishing little. That is why it is important to pace yourself because if you don’t, you will find yourself in a heap on the bed after it is all over having enjoyed nothing.
Remember your family wants you not all the stuff that goes with the season.
I wish I could go back to my pain years and talk to myself and realize that I was killing myself to give my family things they didn’t want or need. You know what my kids’ favorite tradition is? It’s matching PJs the night before Christmas! Ordered online! Not the dozens of different cookies, not the handmade Christmas Cards, not the huge Thanksgiving feast. Playing games and matching jammies. Sigh. So here is a list of 10 ways I NOW make my holidays easier and am thankful for it.
10 Ways to Pace Yourself During the Holidays:
- Be Realistic – Do not plan more than you know you can accomplish. Determine what is really important, and break it down into small steps. SKIP the rest.
- Do not overschedule – If you do not have the energy to go to 3 drop-in parties in one afternoon, then don’t go to three! Pick the one that is the most important and go to that one.
- Learn to say “NO” – If someone asks you to participate in something that you know you will not have the energy for, say no and apologize. It really is ok to tell someone no.
- Decide what is really important – You may like hand wrapping all of the presents in coordinated paper and bows but using bags can be easier. Is it really THAT important to wrap them instead of putting them in bags? The paper ends up ripped to shreds in a matter of minutes so the answer is that it isn’t really that important!
- Change traditions to match your energy levels – In the past, you may have prepared an entire Thanksgiving meal with a 100 dishes and desserts. Pick which ones are the most special and cut out the others. If someone has anything to say about it, then tell them to bring the item they will miss. Or better yet, turn it into a Potluck and ask everyone to bring a side and a dessert. It is more important that you are able to enjoy family time.
- Shop Online – Did you know that a lot of those Black Friday sales are available online and sometimes hours before the stores open? It varies by each store but there is a chance that the items you want are available online. So, do your research because it may save you from standing in line for hours. And For those that LOVE the thrill of the hunt and the bustle of Black Friday, prioritize it! Use a walking aide, take your meds, get out there and enjoy!
- Pay for wrapping for online orders – If the stores you are ordering from offer wrapping services, take advantage of this. (if the budget has room for it) This is definitely a time saver because all you have to do is open the box, label it, and put it under the tree! Always looks better than when I do it anyway!
- Order online for out-of-town family and have it shipped to them – This is a big one! It seems like a no-brainer but it just hit me last year to do this! I ordered gifts for my mom and several others from Amazon last year. I paid for wrapping and had it shipped directly to her. The wrapping fee was covered by what I would have spent on mailing things to her and it saved me from having to stand in line at the post office! Gotta love online shopping!
- Get plenty of rest – On the week leading up to big events, make sure you are getting plenty of rest. If you are already rum down, those events will just make things worse.
- Make a list of the things you need to get done – Nothing can make my anxiety soar like having a bunch to do and having it all running around in my head at 90 mph. Writing it down takes my brain out of the equation. We all know there is something great about seeing things get checked off the list!
Take care of yourself this holiday season, learn to pace yourself with realistic expectations of your chronic pain, and check out these blog posts in case the flares come despite your best efforts!
6 ideas to get through a pain flare
When to Worry About Pain: Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore https://restoringvenus.com/pain-flares-red-flags/
10 things I wish I had known about pain flares
