My Top Tips on Managing the Holidays with a

Top Tips on Managing the Holidays with a #ChronicIllness
With social & financial pressures, the holiday season can be stressful for many but when you have a chronic illness those pressures can be intensified. So much expectation is placed on us 'because it's Christmas' & we’re often forced to do more than we usually would, meaning it can be the most flare inducing time of the year. Chronic illness doesn't know or care that it’s Christmas, pain & fatigue don't just disappear because it's the holidays. So here are my festive Health hacks to avoid flares & burnout.
🎄 Set clear boundaries & say no: Don't push yourself just because it's Christmas because the only person who will suffer is you. We can often get stuck between family & visit multiple destinations to keep the peace but if you wouldn’t do it all in one day any other time of the year don't do it for the holidays. If you really need to see everyone try & push for a more accessible option, like a zoom call.
✨ Create a rest space to get away from it all. Whether you're at home or visiting family, try& prearrange a space you can go & rest if things get too much, whether it’s a separate room with a bed or a comfy pillow in your car. If you talk about this in advance it's easier to excuse yourself on the day too.
🎅🏼 Simplify & Prioritise where you can! We can't do it all, especially at Christmas. We might want perfectly wrapped gifts & homemade food but in reality gift bags & pre prepared food are much easier meaning you can save more time & energy on the things you really love. This year I took Christmas cards off my to do list as they were just an extra thing I really didn't need to spend spoons on.
🎄 Ask for help. Again if there’s particular holiday tasks you struggle with, don't suffer in silence, ask someone else if they can help you or take on that task themselves. If you don't have the physical support, reaching out to a friend virtually for emotional support might be just as helpful.
Let me know in the comments how you are spending the holidays & what your top tip is for making it easier to manage?
#ChristmasHacks #ChristmasTips #SpoonieChristmas

[@gridspir]

Needed to see this today. Struggling…. thank you for the reminders!

[@crealibro]

Maravillosa 🐋

[@CreandoAmor]

Soy la misma 😅🤗

[@shannongreenwell1278]

Yup!

[@CreandoAmor]

Haces algo muy significativo 🐳