Self-care through gratitude during the holidays

As we enter the busy holiday season and end of the year, we encourage you to take care of yourself. It’s hard to practice self-care in our fast-paced world, let alone try and think of your own needs when you are juggling, work, family and the needs of a chronically ill child. By remembering, “to put on your own oxygen mask first,” so to speak; and getting enough rest, exercising and eating right you will be better equipped to help meet your own needs and the needs of your family.

Another great self-care strategy is to practice gratitude. Gratitude has been shown to have both psychological and physical benefits when practiced regularly.

Gratitude can improve:

• Sleep

• Energy

• Decision-making

• Self-esteem

• Happiness

Gratitude can reduce:

• Stress

• Pain

• Cortisol levels

• Inflammation

• Blood Pressure

Gratitude also helps to build resilience and strength in dealing with the challenges and adversities we may face in everyday life.

Making gratitude a daily routine:

• Identify the good things in your life. Look for those simple everyday occurrences that you may sometimes take for granted and appreciate them.

• Enjoy the feeling of gratitude. Be in the moment, when you experience that feeling of gratitude; take a moment to pause, reflect, and let the feeling sink when it happens.

• Express gratitude. Tell someone thank you or pay it forward and do an act of kindness.

Gratitude ideas:

• At the beginning or end of each day identify 1-2 things you are grateful for write it down or share with your family.

• Keep a gratitude journal.

• Make gratitude a family affair and share during mealtime, commuting or another time everyone is together.

• Be creative and develop a gratitude calendar or create a “give thanks” poster. On the top write “I am thankful for” and each family member can make a daily entry.

• Place “thank-you” notes in lunch bags or backpacks.

Wishing you a healthy, happy and thankful New Year!