Giving, giving, gone?

The holidays are a time of giving to others and that can be a beautiful thing. But to someone involved in being a caregiver, the holidays can add an additional burden that can make the holidays feel like one big burden. If you are a caregiver, you are most likely trying to balance your caregiving responsibilities with the other obligations that arise during this time of year. You may be doing your own shopping while also shopping for the person you care for, wrapping their gifts as you wrap yours, planning events that may or may not include them. The pressure to keep up your own personal traditions, and to please the people who rely on you, while also keeping up traditions for the person you care for can be draining. I know, I have been there. And so have many of my clients. I would encourage to give up the need to be super________ (woman, man, adult child, partner, etc.) Decide what you can reasonably do for the people in your life and what you can't do. Enlist help. Say no to a few events, or go but buy a pie instead of showing off your baking skills. Also, be honest with the person you are caring for. Let them know what you want to do and can do, and also what you want to do but can't do.

Build in some "me" time -- now wouldn't that be a perfect gift?

Remind yourself that you are doing the best you can. Giving until you are angry, frustrated, emotionally and physically depleted... that isn't going to help anyone.

Take time to rest, meditate, get reconnected with your own inner core. You can only do what you can do.