{"id":1727,"date":"2019-04-17T12:57:26","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T12:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asbury.org\/bethany-village\/blog\/2019\/04\/17\/tips-for-caregivers-to-deal-with-holiday-stress\/"},"modified":"2019-04-17T12:57:26","modified_gmt":"2019-04-17T12:57:26","slug":"tips-for-caregivers-to-deal-with-holiday-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asbury.org\/bethany-village\/blog\/2019\/04\/17\/tips-for-caregivers-to-deal-with-holiday-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Caregivers to Deal with Holiday Stress"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Elizabeth Miller started her online community HappyHealthyCaregiver.com after years of taking care of two chronically ill parents who lived six hours away.<\/p>\n

A classic sandwich generation member, Elizabeth \u201cwas stressed, overwhelmed and often felt like I was suffocating by my never-ending to-do lists\u201d as she tried to juggle caregiving, a full-time job and her own family\u2019s needs. Her stress levels really headed north as she prepared for Christmas. “The holidays are wonderful, but they can really ramp up the pressure you\u2019re already under,” Elizabeth says.\u00a0“You have to admit to yourself that something has got to give. I liked things to be a certain way. When you\u2019re in the intensity of being a family caregiver you have to make some choices. And that\u2019s an important lesson to tell yourself year-round.”<\/p>\n

Here, Elizabeth shares three tips for caregivers to follow for a happy, healthy holiday. (See Happy Healthy Caregiver resources at the end of this post.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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1. Keep It Simple<\/h3>\n

My kids are teenagers now, and this won\u2019t work with young children, but our stockings hold our primary gifts and each person is responsible for filling one person\u2019s. We draw names and have a $200 allowance, so usually gifts are spilling out around the stocking, too.<\/p>\n

I used to stuff everyone\u2019s stocking and it was a lot of work to find little items \u2013 and it added up cost-wise. This way, the stockings are a real surprise for everyone. We take turns opening the gifts to make it last.<\/p>\n

The best new holiday decoration is the staked laser light that projects holiday images all over the house. It\u2019s a great way to feel decorated without spending hours stringing lights.<\/p>\n

I have a large, growing family; my siblings all have kids. Several years ago we talked and decided to simplify our holidays. We only buy birthday and Christmas gifts when we are going to physically be with our nieces and nephews on Christmas or on their birthday, and we don\u2019t buy cards. We call instead.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2.\u00a0Figure Out What Matters<\/h3>\n

Ask each member of your family to identify the one holiday tradition they can\u2019t live without \u2013 the one activity that makes the holiday hit home \u2013 and then honor that. For my daughter, it\u2019s making a gingerbread house. We bought a kit because it seems silly to spend time you don\u2019t have making gingerbread you don\u2019t eat, and we had a great time.<\/p>\n

For two years, we planned a family trip as our gift. We went to Italy over Thanksgiving last year and spent Christmas at the movies. And you don\u2019t have to spend that much. You could do a weekend trip or buy tickets to an event.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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3.\u00a0They\u2019ll Eat What You Give Them<\/h3>\n

As a caregiver, the constant issue is time.\u00a0If you are a gourmet cook,\u00a0then maybe the prep time is worth it to you. But I\u2019ve learned that they\u2019ll eat what you put in front of them.<\/p>\n

My mother was a fabulous cook\u00a0and went all out during the holidays. But she was in the kitchen the whole time, and I remember thinking that when I got older, I was going to be out with the people playing games and having fun.<\/p>\n

Before the holiday, I call my family and guests and ask what they would like to bring. Then I fill in around that.<\/p>\n

I buy Ore Ida frozen potatoes and use those for our mashed potatoes. You can easily dress up a bagged salad with some dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds. And I don\u2019t make a ton of side dishes. You always come away stuffed between appetizers, desserts, and the main meal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Resources for Happy, Healthy Caregiving<\/p>\n