5 Ways to enjoy the festive season (when you have a chronic illness)
5 ways to enjoy the festive season, when you have a chronic illness.
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Make yourself a priority
When you have a chronic illness you learn how to make your life a little easier. Many of us will have a trusted routine that we follow to make everyday a little less difficult. This could be a slower morning routine if first thing in the morning is difficult. Or a relaxing evening routine to help calm the body and mind after a difficult day. Maybe you have a few breaks in the day where you check in with yourself and adjust your day if necessary to help the day run more smoothly.
Whatever it is this must continue during your festive period. There is no point in overdoing it, running yourself ragged and not taking care of yourself to boot. This time is for enjoying and you will be able to enjoy yourself much more if you are feeling your best, or as close to it as you can. If you need help with a few ideas to help with this here are two gift guides, it doesn’t have to be a gift for someone else, why not treat yourself. Rheumatoid arthritis gift guide and Raynaud’s disease gift guide.
Keep to your diet
The festive season is one where everyone likes to indulge. Whether that is with food or alcohol, there is plenty of opportunity to indulge more than you would throughout the year. What if you have a restrictive diet though? Should you loosen your rules to enjoy yourself more?
The answer is, it is entirely up to you. Here is how I look at it though; if indulging in something you otherwise do not allow yourself to eat or drink will make you feel better psychologically, even if it affects you physically then consider doing it. My guess though is that this isn’t the case. There is a reason you have changed the way you eat. You may have given up sugar, gluten, meat or dairy for example. Remember the reasons why, probably because it causes pain or exacerbates symptoms. So then, why would you want your symptoms to be worse over the period you are supposed to be enjoying?
The benefits?
Really think about the benefits of eating that food, or drinking that mulled wine! How long will the taste last? A few minutes? Not much longer. How long will your symptoms be present for afterwards? Now re assess whether it is worth it or not. It is a very personal decision but if you change your way of thinking it may be an easier one to make. Christmas is about the time spent, not the food eaten, I know I would rather be pain free for my Christmas celebration. There is no food that tastes good enough to risk that in my opinion.
Now I’m not saying that you shouldn’t enjoy what you are eating. Why not spend some time thinking of meals, snacks and drinks that do fit in with your restricted diet that you will enjoy. This way you will not feel “left out”.
Say no
The festive season is supposed to be a time of joy and happiness. For a lot of us though it can also be a time of more stress. This is not to say that we do not enjoy the season; it is just that there are some things that make life more challenging at this time. When you have a chronic illness it is important that stress is kept to a minimum as it can cause a flare up of disease activity.
Learn to say no! Do you take on more tasks at Christmas in comparison to the rest of the year? Could you ask for help or delegate more? Do you attend too many events or get togethers that are taxing on you physically or mentally? Do you run around more doing shopping or errands for others as well as your own? If you have said yes to any of these, now is the time to put a stop to it. It isn’t selfish it is self-preservation and if you are not looking out for yourself then who will?
Know your limit
Another important point here is knowing when you have pushed yourself past your limit. What does that look like and how will that feel? Having a few failsafe ways to come back from going past that limit will be an excellent resource in this busy time. It may be as simple as an evening to yourself to regroup with a hot bath. Whatever it is, have some up your sleeve for when you need it, and for goodness sake, do not push too hard.
Knowing your limit does not mean you are failing to get anything done, it means you are taking care to get things done safely. For example, can you prepare all of your vegetables for Christmas dinner the day before so you are not stood in the kitchen all morning on Christmas day? Even better, can you give this job to someone else? My husband is chief vegetable peeler in our house and even my daughter will get involved when my hands are particularly bad. This will mean I have less chance of hand pain on Christmas day, which will free me up to cook easier.
If you are hosting this year, get people to bring a plate of something. This will take the burden off you and they will feel like they are contributing. This year my mum will bring a starter, I am doing the main course and my mother in law will bring dessert. Much less pressure on me winch in turn should make pushing me to my limit easier to manage.
Change your expectations
Changing your expectations is a gentle way to manage a busy time. When you are chronically unwell, it is difficult to accept that you cannot carry on as you once did. Running around the city all day, shopping until your feet ache. Carrying bags upon bags of gifts until your hands hurt. Having endless late nights wrapping! These were the norm for most of us and now that we cannot do this anymore it feels like we are letting not only others down but ourselves. It can be incredibly frustrating not to be able to do everything as we once did.
Changing our mind-set and our expectations are paramount to getting through this. Teach yourself that taking three trips to the city to shop is a kinder idea than just one trip. It is not a negative thing, it is a necessity in order to allow you to continue to function normally. Not taking on all of the hosting or all of the cooking isn’t being weak, it is being sensible. Change the expectations that you set yourself now that you are chronically ill; this is the ultimate kindness, for yourself.
Remember that none of these points are supposed to be about being selfish, this is your Christmas too and you deserve to enjoy it. It will also serve your family well; if you are happier and more comfortable then they will feel happier too.
As a bonus thought, start thinking about gratitude. What are you thankful for this year? Who are you grateful for? What are you grateful for? This year has been tough, and when you are unwell it can be hard to see past your illness and be thankful for anything. However, there are things to be grateful for, plenty of them and it is at this time of year when thanks can come easier. When we are getting ready to spend time with our loved ones, think of people who have no one. When we are getting our homes decorated and preparing to invite visitors in, think of the people who do not have that luxury. We may have difficult lives but there are always thanks to be found and if we focus on that, our festive season should be a really joyful one.
Lastly try to enjoy the festive season and give joy and kindness, especially to yourself; it is hard work living with a chronic illness, look after yourself.
Wishing you health and happiness
Laura x
Chickpea flour tortillas
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