I would like to hear from you what your best holiday tips for making it through Christmas are! I did a post last week on how to survive the holidays with a chronic illness, but I would like to hear what tips you have and what you have to say! I will then take everyones comments and add them to the post!
Some holiday tips for the chronically ill that I have to offer include:
– Start shopping early.
– Wrap presents as you purchase them.
– Give lots of gift certificates!
– Look at your calendar and plan your days so that you are not trying to do everything in a couple of days right before Christmas. I try to have wrapping and everything done at least a week or more before Christmas so that I can have plenty of time to rest up so that I have energy for my family on Christmas day.
– If you usually do the cooking for Christmas, try going out to eat for a change or see if someone else can host Christmas dinner this year.
Now I need your tips!
FreeFromPT adds:
– Order your Christmas cards with the picture of your family/child/critter already on it and pre-signed on the inside (its not overly-personal, but at least its a form of communication).
– Enter all your christmas addresses into a program so that the labels print out w/ease year after year.
– Use return labels on envelopes.
– Use gift bags with tissue paper to wrap whenever possible.
Barbara K. adds:
– A holiday tip I would recommend is to have a trusted friend who knows what you are going though within phone reach. I have found that when I overdose on holiday cheer, it helps to call my buddy and be understood.
Robin adds:
Dont work in retail during the holiday season! The stress can make your symptoms worse and you get exposed to every virus around. Im trying to take my own advice and make this my last retail Christmas.
Take advantage of the volunteers in malls who will wrap presents for you, often for free or for a donation to a worthwhile organization. Also, many catalogs and online sites offer free or inexpensive wrapping.
Have a list ready before you shop, whether for presents or groceries or supplies. Shop at non-peak hours (weekday mornings are good) so you spend less time in crowds and lines.
Dont overdo it while youre decorating; if you get tired or sore, finish setting up the tree or lights or whatever later.
I must say your blog is pretty cool!
This Christmas and holiday tips does help a lot to remind myself as I am so disorganised.
Thanks for sharing and I am sorry I can’t give any tips because I am not good of putting everything in place.
Hope you’ll have a lovely christmas.
Already famed you!
Order your Christmas cards with the picture of your family/child/critter already on it and pre-signed on the inside (it’s not overly-personal, but at least it’s a form of communication).
Enter all your christmas addresses into a program so that the labels print out w/ease year after year.
Use return labels on envelopes.
(can you tell I can’t stand spending time on Christmas cards? LOL)
Use gift bags with tissue paper to wrap whenever possible.
A holiday tip I would recommend is to have a trusted friend who knows what you are going though within phone reach. I have found that when I overdose on holiday cheer, it helps to call my buddy and be understood.
Don’t work in retail during the holiday season! The stress can make your symptoms worse and you get exposed to every virus around. I’m trying to take my own advice and make this my last retail Christmas.
Take advantage of the volunteers in malls who will wrap presents for you, often for free or for a donation to a worthwhile organization. Also, many catalogs and online sites offer free or inexpensive wrapping.
Have a list ready before you shop, whether for presents or groceries or supplies. Shop at non-peak hours (weekday mornings are good) so you spend less time in crowds and lines.
Don’t overdo it while you’re decorating; if you get tired or sore, finish setting up the tree or lights or whatever later.
Thanks so much for the great comments! I added everything you all listed so far plus I included links to your blogs with your name! I appreciate you!