Pain Management and Migraine Relief: Surviving the Holidays, A Day at a Time

Have you caught yourself sighing, stressing and saying "It is always something."? Well, I am finding myself doing so now. It seems for the past several months I have battled with aches and pains of one type or another. I just can't seem to get everything calmed down at the same time so I can feel like my old self. It seems as though one thing leads to another and to another creating this downhill spiral of events that waste energy and rob a person's vitality.

For a person like me who is used to being on the go, being tired and exhausted and in pain has knocked me down. And with the holidays here I am feeling stressed even further. I am just not bouncing back like I usually do. I guess I need to take a look at the big picture here and see what I can do to make things a little easier for myself. Let's see...

The first thing I might do is get out my pad of paper and pen and make a "to do" list. Date it and prioritize it. Next, look at my calendar and see what is on there and determine if it is a necessity and if it a flexibile item--something that can be rescheduled if necessary. Next I start plotting my course--filling in my to do list into my calendar.

As I begin seeing a plan emerge, my anxiety seems to lift slightly. I make sure to include time for preparation and then completion. For instance, I need to determine what I want to get for people on my gift list before I go shopping. This helps me to direct my efforts and save time. It might be a good idea to consider some online shopping this year since my physical stamina and ability to manage on my feet is compromised this year. So as I plot my calendar, I need to plan these as separate items.

Something else I might consider is checking out my resources. See who might be available and which things I might be able to delegate to others. That way I can prioritize and organize my list and my course even further.

One thing I must be sure to do is include rest periods. Regardless of how much needs to be done, it is important to rest frequently, eat regularly and not overdo. I must remember that pushing now can lead to problems later that can interfere with my ability to accomplish everything I need to do. Being exhausted, stressed to the max, and feeling poorly does not make for a good holiday season. Needless suffering will only make things worst than they already are.

This blog has helped me to begin what I need to do. It is time for me to grab that pad of paper and pen and get started on my to-do list. I also need to consider a gift list of people and items to shop for. I know my calendar is going to very full of things to do and I know I am going to fight myself to get those rest periods into the time on a regular basis. But I do want to find some enjoyment these next few weeks and I really do want to begin to feel better so I know the importance of making this a priority.

How are you doing? Are you feeling the stress of the season? Are you feeling overwhelmed by everything yet to do? Maybe taking out a pad of paper and a pen along with your calendar might help you as well..?