Senior Spotlight: Family Caregivers, We See You

To those who give so big, give yourself permission to keep things small.

"Don't be bound by traditions. Give yourself permission to change things up.

It can be liberating."

To the 38 million family caregivers and counting across the United States, we see you, appreciate you and invite you to give yourself grace this holiday season. This time of year is full of joy – but also of expectations, thing to do, decorations to put up, shopping to be done and traditions to uphold. Those stressors on top of the daily and weekly responsibilities of caring for a loved one can be incredibly daunting. But it doesn’t have to be; a new read from Next Avenue titled “Holiday Hacks For Family Caregivers: Less Stress, More Joy” encourages caregivers to “Let go of expectations and focus on what's really important this holiday season.”

While that is far easier said than done, here are just a few of the tips to help you refocus and refresh your holiday traditions.

Step 1: Acknowledge that things are different now. Ask yourself what traditions do I want to keep (and maybe modify), and what do I want to let go of? (Tell yourself – it’s okay!)

Step 2: Consider that less can be more. Fewer people and a smaller menu do NOT equal less joy. A more manageable group size and less overwhelming event can actually allow for more meaningful interactions. You can always plan New Year lunches or small get-togethers with additional loved ones early in 2024.

Step 3: Give yourself a holiday gift. It does not have to be fancy! Everyone talks about self-care like it’s something you order on Amazon, but what if you actually gave yourself time for a walk in your favorite park or make a lunch date with a friend. You Deserve it – even though it’s admittedly going to take work to make it happen.

We enjoyed the parting words of the Next Avenue article on this topic and we think you will too. “Whatever you create, whether you trim the tree or trim down the festivities, the holidays are still a unique time to build new memories and savor the simple joy of being with people you love.”

Cheers to simplicity and softness this season,

Bobbi Decker
DRE#00607999

Broker Associate
650.346.5352 cell
650.577.3127 efax
www.bobbidecker.com

NAR Instructor….“Designations Create Distinctions”
CIPS, SRS, ABR, CRS, SRES, GRI, CLHMS, REI, AHWD, RSPS, MSLG

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