Self-Care During The Holidays: Why Advocating for Yourself Matters for Your Health
The holidays are meant to be joyful, but for many people, it comes with stress, exhaustion, and overwhelm. Between family obligations, financial pressure, travel, and year end deadlines, it’s easy to put your own health last.
December is when people push through symptoms, delay appointments, skip medications, and ignore warning signs because it feels easier to take care of everyone else first. Practicing self-care during the holidays isn’t selfish. It’s self-advocacy.
Self-advocacy means:
Listening to your body
Honoring your limits
Speaking up about your needs
Making informed decisions that protect your health
During the holidays, advocating for yourself might look very different than bubble baths and spa days. Sometimes, it’s simply saying no, resting when you’re tired, or choosing peace over pressure.
From a medical standpoint, the holidays can be a perfect storm:
Increased stress hormones
Poor sleep
Changes in diet and alcohol intake
Skipped routines and medications
Emotional triggers and grief
All of these can worsen chronic conditions, mental health symptoms, autoimmune flares, heart issues, and fatigue.
Self-care during the holidays is preventative care.
When you care for yourself now, you’re reducing the risk of:
Emergency room visits
Hospitalizations
Burnout
Health setbacks in the new year
Practical ways to practice self-care during the holidays include:
Keep your medical appointments
Set boundaries without guilt—It’s ok to skip the white elephant gift exchange party!
Set reminders for medication and healthcare routines if your schedule is crazy
Plan ahead to avoid preventable issues
Acknowledge your emotional health—the holidays can bring up a wide range of emotions, from grief to loneliness
Many people struggle to advocate for themselves in healthcare settings, especially when they’re overwhelmed or unwell. That’s where patient advocacy can help.
As a nurse patient advocate with Kentucky Health Advocacy, my role is to:
Help you understand symptoms and diagnoses
Prepare for appointments
Ask the right questions
Navigate complex healthcare systems
Reduce stress so you can focus on healing
Especially during the holidays, having support can make a meaningful difference. Taking care of yourself is not a luxury. It’s necessary.
This holiday season, give yourself permission to slow down, listen to your body, and choose your well-being—because you deserve care, too.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed managing your health, or a loved one’s, during the holidays, professional patient advocacy can help lighten the load.
You don’t have to navigate healthcare alone.
As a Kentucky-based nurse patient advocate, I work with individuals and families across the state to:
Understand symptoms and new diagnoses
Prepare for doctor and specialist appointments
Navigate Kentucky’s healthcare systems and insurance plans
Coordinate care and next steps
Reduce stress so you can focus on your health and well-being
Advocating for yourself is one of the most important forms of self-care and having a knowledgeable, local advocate in your corner can make a meaningful difference.
If you’re ready to start the new year feeling informed, supported, and empowered in your healthcare, I’m here to help.
Contact me to learn more about patient advocacy services available throughout Kentucky.
