Chronic holidays

The holidays are a great time of year: gathering with family, eating good food, spending time with friends. Still, they can be rough on those of us with chronic illness. Gathering with family can be stressful, with fights, tension and potentially seeing people you wish you weren't related to. Too much eating can lead to weight gain. All of it can mean pushing yourself past your limits. It can be a disaster.

After 6 years of chronic illness, I am still trying to learn how to enjoy the holidays as I did in years past.  Here are some things I think might help.  Limit your stress as much as possible; I know that can be hard with traveling, seeing relatives with whom you may not get along and demands on your energy when you may not have all that much to give. It's also hard when you love to decorate the inside and outside of your house.  But keeping everything in perspective is essential. Maybe you don't get out ALL of the decorations or don't expect yourself to get all the decorating done in one day.  Maybe you don’t go to every holiday party to which you’re invited. Maybe you let other people cook the big show-stopper dishes. Maybe you plan in naps during all-day family affairs.

This year it took me 3 days to decorate my Christmas tree (instead of the couple of hours it use to take me).  And this year I asked for help!  My husband has been awesome!  Thank you honey!!

Now I know you are looking at these pictures saying, good grief, scale that thing back, Annette.  I really would, but I love it too much and it truly brings me joy! And somehow that joy makes me feel just a little bit better!

Eating as well as possible is so critical, too. I know it’s tempting to have two or three helpings of all that deliciousness, plus a few slices of pumpkin pie for dessert. Bad idea. A good way to prevent overeating is only allowing yourself one plate. Whatever I can fit on that plate, I can take. No seconds. But I’m sure there are lots of other ways to keep from eating too much.

But, really, all the holiday tips in the world boil down to one thing: Take care of yourself. It’s not worth working yourself into a frenzy and hit every holiday high note only to be flattened for days or weeks afterward. My advice? Do as much as you can. No more. The holidays are no less special if you spend a few evenings basking in the glow of a Christmas tree, listening to carols on iheartradio and sipping on hot apple cider or hot peppermint chocolate!!

My very best wishes to you all for a
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ~ love Annette