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For some, Christmas is an exciting and happy time and for others, it can be stressful and difficult, for all sorts of reasons.
Christmas-time can have added stressors and can be an artificial deadline to ‘get things finished’.
Before we head in to some tips, including from our staff who have children with a disability, we’d like to say ‘thank you’ for supporting us, and take the time to wish you safe, relaxing and enjoyable holiday period. We’re open throughout the Christmas and New Year except for the public holidays. Your Plan Tracker portal is always open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you can keep up-to-date whenever and wherever you need to.
We hope some of these tips help you or someone you care for: a few tips which might help you or someone you love:
- Check Christmas open times for your local GP, pharmacy and any other services you use regularly. Their opening hours may be different during the Christmas period. Good to know before they are closed so you get organised with medications, prescriptions etc.
- Contact your service providers to find out if and how your supports will need to be changed. Plan Tracker will be open throughout the holidays except on Public Holidays – Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 December, and Wednesday 1 January. The Participant Portal is open 24/7.
- Share a calendar with family and support workers, so they know what’s going on for you over the Christmas break.
- Be kind to yourself – Not everyone feels comfortable and safe being out and about. If you’re comfortable getting together, it’s a great time to spend with family and friends – even safer if it’s outdoors. As @Authentically Aspen said in his blog for Plan Tracker, ‘rest is important’.
- Plan ahead – Reduce surprises (and stress) by working out and agreeing on the plans, times, preparations and locations so you can organise transport, access and what you need to bring for the day.
- Reach out – Christmas can be a lonely time. Don’t be afraid to reach out to support workers, friends and people in your local community – good company is great for our mental health overall wellbeing.
- Thank your carer – Not necessarily with a gift, but a thank you or a card, or if you’re into baking or making, share some of your creations. If you have a carer or someone special in your life, let them know what they mean to you.
- Keep it simple and suitable (for you) –Looking at social media, it might seem like everyone is having a perfect Christmas! With Covid still very much in many communities, it might be time to take the pressure off and keep things as simple as possible. Smaller gatherings, pre-prepared food, limited gift exchanges etc.
- Get into the spirit – enjoy a fun, silly or traditional Christmas movie (there are too many to mention here!) or put on some Christmas Carols. If you can’t get to a live Christmas Carols event you might like to watch Carols in the Domain on TV which will be televised on Channel 7 from 7.30pm Christmas Eve. Even from home you could really get into the spirit and wear a silly or funny Christmas hat, earrings, T-shirt or decorate yourself (or your pet), and of course, light a candle!
- Get joy from giving. We can forget that Christmas is the season for giving. When you give (big, small, home-made, whatever it is!), it brings joy to others and can make you feel good too.
We wish you all the best for a restful and happy festive season, whatever that means for you.
If you need to talk with someone, please call:
- Beyond Blue 24hour phone line – 1300 22 46 36
- Lifeline phone 24hour phone line – 13 11 14
- Mental Health Emergency Response Line: 1300 555 788
- Men’s Line: 1300 789 978