Do:
1. Set realistic expectations. The pressure to create the perfect holiday for family and friends is too much for one person to take on. You can have fun and celebrate the season without the “perfect” decorations, food, or gifts. Lower your stress level and try some stress-busting tools.
2. Give yourself one or two goals to achieve each day. You probably have so many things to do before the holiday that you’re not sure it can all get done in time. Set a realistic goal to accomplish one task each day and be sure to complete it.
3. Be upfront with family and about your health. If this is your first holiday season after being diagnosed, it’s going to be different for you than in other years. You will need to pay more attention to what you eat and make sure you get enough rest. Let your loved ones know what your limits are and that you’re looking forward to celebrating with them.
4. Spend time with the special people in your life. Make time for those friends and family members who care about you and who you enjoy spending time with. Try to avoid those people who make you feel bad about yourself (such as those who think that your health problems are somehow your own fault).
5. Let other people help you. Don’t try to do everything yourself, especially if you’re not feeling well. Accept help -- and ask for it! -- from your trusted friends and family. Join an online or face-to-face support group to meet other people with similar health problems.
Don’t:
1. Dwell on your health problems. A pity party every so often is fine, but after a day or two, decide that it’s over. Focus on the good things in your life such as family, friends, career, and home.
2. Assume you can’t attend parties or go shopping. You can still stick to your health regimen while attending celebrations and getting those holiday tasks completed. Think about ways to make things easier for yourself such as bringing a gift of food (that you can eat) to the party and helping your host to set it out. Take advantage of stores that open early or stay open late so that you can shop during the “off” times; it is less stressful for you and there is easier access to restrooms.
3. Skip your daily physical activity. Don’t back off your fitness routine because you think you don’t have the time to keep it up during the holiday season. Your health is essential and if a task needs to go undone because you are taking your daily walk -- so be it.
4. Think that you have to do everything yourself. There is a lot of pressure to do everything (baking, cleaning, wrapping, cooking) yourself. There is no harm in buying cookies at a bakery, asking a friend to help with the cleaning, taking advantage of free gift wrapping (or “instant” gift wrap), or buying pre-made food. Enjoying the holiday is more important than if you made the pie from scratch or not.
5. Allow other people to ruin your season. Every year there are those people who really try to spoil your fun. Don’t let them. If you can avoid them, do so. If you can’t, don’t take their comments or criticism to heart -- consider the source.
