The holiday season can feel like a marathon of expectations, and for caregivers, it's often the final stretch that feels most overwhelming. Between caring for your loved one, managing festive preparations, and navigating complex family dynamics, your own well-being can easily become an afterthought.
But what if this year, you gave yourself the gift of grace and practical self-care? These ten stress-relief strategies are designed specifically for caregivers to help you navigate the holiday hustle with more peace, less pressure, and moments of genuine joy.
Reduce Holiday Stress by Practicing Self-Care for Caregivers
The holidays can be a time of mixed emotions and extra stress for caregivers.
There are happy celebrations, special traditions, and wonderful memories.
But there can also be unpleasant family members, grief for those who have passed, and an overwhelming To Do list.
In the midst of all of this, self-care may sound like a silly concept, but it truly is an effective way to reduce stress, improve well-being, and help you find some joy in these challenging situations.
And when you feel better, everyone around you will also benefit from that positive energy.
Here, we’ve rounded up 10 helpful and realistic tips that help you care for yourself this holiday season.
10 Caregiver Self-Care Tips for the holidays
1. Make Time for Yourself
It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of extra tasks and hassles that the holidays bring.
Added to regular caregiving responsibilities, it can really amp up the stress.
To counter that, make it a priority to take a little time for yourself to sit quietly, relax, and recharge.
Remind yourself that this isn’t a waste of time. In fact, taking brief time-outs can make you more effective and efficient because you won’t be so frazzled.
2. Establish Your Priorities
There are dozens of things going on during the holidays, but it’s impossible to do everything without running yourself ragged.
So, take a moment to consider – which are the most important to you?
Taking time to consider what gives you the most meaning and fulfillment helps you prioritize activities, events, and even people.
That helps you focus your time and energy so you won’t feel so overwhelmed and drained.
3. Take Care of Yourself During Family Interactions
The holiday season often means spending time with people you may not see the rest of the year.
That can mean spending time (or video calling) with family or others who criticize your caregiving, don’t help out, or are unsupportive or unkind.
Since you can’t simply avoid these people, the best way to protect yourself is to keep contact to a minimum and stay neutral and civil.
This isn’t the time or place to hash out bigger issues or vent frustrations.
That’s unlikely to accomplish your goal, and the unpleasant interaction will only make you more stressed and angry.
If you do have run-ins with unpleasant people, walk away as soon as you can and give yourself a little time to cool off and calm down before rejoining the group.
4. Make Room for Grief if you’re Missing Someone Who Has Passed Away
The holidays can be tough when you’re missing someone important to you.
Consider setting a place at the table, observing a moment of silence, or sharing favorite memories as ways to honor them.
If you’re feeling sad, remind yourself that it’s completely natural and that you don’t have to pretend to be cheerful.
Permit yourself to feel your emotions as they are, and don’t feel obligated to participate in activities if the feelings are too overwhelming.
5. Reflect on What You’re Grateful For
Practicing gratitude is a proven stress-buster.
It changes your perspective and helps you see that there is always some good in life, even in tough times.
To help you focus on the positive moments, jot down three things you’re grateful for, do a quick gratitude exercise, or tell someone why you’re thankful for them.
6. Remember That Holiday Stress Will Pass
When you’re in the middle of a stressful situation, it can feel like it’s never going to end.
Keep reminding yourself that this will be over soon, that you've successfully made it through every previous holiday season, and focus on noticing and enjoying as many positive moments as possible.
You could even keep a countdown calendar and mark off each day as a visual reminder that you’re getting closer and closer to the end of the festivities.
7. Reflect on why you might be Feeling Negative Emotions
Negative emotions during the holidays could be related to unrealistic expectations of yourself, too-ambitious goals, or just feeling overwhelmed.
When you’re feeling negatively, think about whether it could be caused by one of these things.
You may decide that it makes sense to adjust your expectations to suit the reality of the situation or choose to do a few fewer activities that aren’t as meaningful.
8. Find Reasons to Laugh
Humor is a fantastic stress reliever and an effective way to cope with challenging situations.
Take the opportunities to laugh as much as possible during the holidays.
And if funny things don’t come up naturally, watch a funny movie or show, or do something silly like play charades or have a fun sing-along.
9. Take a Few Moments to Meditate or Listen to Music
To help your body relax and de-stress, try a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere, anytime. Or, try a 2 minute meditation session.
Other ways to help your body and mind release tension are to listen to music, do a quick workout, or stretch your body.
10. Lean on a Self-Care Buddy
When you know you’ll be going through a tough time, it can be helpful to have someone to talk to – in person, via phone, or even by text.
Let a supportive friend know you’ll check in with them when you’re feeling down.
Reach out to your online caregiver support group community when you’re feeling frustrated and need to vent.
Or use the crisis text line if you’re not sure who to reach out to, but need immediate support.
 Final Thoughts
Remember, taking care of yourself isn't a holiday luxury—it's essential fuel for the care you provide. By implementing even just one or two of these stress-relief strategies, you're not being selfish; you're ensuring you have the energy and emotional capacity to be present for both your loved one and yourself.
This holiday season, give yourself permission to prioritize your well-being, embrace imperfection, and find joy in the small, quiet moments. You deserve a season filled with as much peace and support as you so generously give to others.
Happy Holidays!
Recommended for you:
- 50 Best Gifts for Seniors: Things You’ve Never Thought Of
- 5 Coping Tips for the Overwhelmed Caregiver
- 15 Affordable Stress Relief Products That Help Caregivers Relax and Unwind
About the Author
Connie is the founder of DailyCaring.com and was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also understands the importance of support, especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
