Emotional Support

Self-care

• Keep time for yourself
• Have a list of activities you enjoy and do one thing every day to reset and recharge
• H.A.L.T (Hungry? Angry? Lonely? Tired?): Take a break!

Healthy habits

• Avoid numbing or avoiding feelings
• Include healthy meals and physical activity (even if it is walking around the kitchen!)
• Stay hydrated and well-rested (6-8 hours of sleep each night)
• Reduce news and social media
• Stay present 
• Try breathing exercises

Finding help

• Insurance provider directory
• Consult professionals
  • Local university
  • Church
  • Community organizations
  • Social worker
  • Physician
  • Human Resources at work

Financial Support

Set a realistic budget

• Base your budget on what is left after you pay monthly bills
• Include food, gifts, and travel
• Adjust the budget as you spend

Create a list of gifts and food

• List prices along with gift and food items
• Avoid unplanned and frequent trips to the store
• Meal alternative: potluck

Alternative gift options

• Be creative with personal, homemade gifts
• Start a gift exchange with family or friends, so that you’re only buying one gift instead of several
• 3-gift rule: one they want, one they need, one they read

Avoid buy-now, pay-later

• Buy-new, pay-later often comes with high-interest rates, late fees, and other costs, especially with any missed payments
• Create repayment plan if you cannot avoid using buy-now, pay-later or credit cards

Stay Connected

• Include family in preparing for the holidays
• Serve your community by volunteering at a local organization or cleaning up your neighborhood
• Get creative with video chat by playing online games, virtual field trip, taking a virtual class, etc
• Create new connections (meetup.com)
• Find a support group
• Invent a new tradition
• Ask for support, be specific

Get ahead of stress

• Put all activities and breaks for yourself on a calendar
• Set an alert on your phone for planned self-care
• Create escape and coping plans. Keep it with you.
• Say “no”, guard your time

Let it out

• Acknowledge and accept feelings
• Write in a journal
• Create manageable to-do lists
• Keep a gratitude list
• Connect with others