Be prepared this Christmas
The holiday season is almost upon us once more, time to reconnect and celebrate with family and friends! But with all the fun comes a little extra pressure. Get ahead of the chaos with these simple tips for a smoother, less stressful Christmas.
- Check Christmas open times for your local GP, pharmacy and any other services you rely on. Operating hours may change during the Christmas period.
- Contact service providers to find out how your supports will be impacted. Make a note of any changes to bookings, so you can amend your calendar. If your supports are disrupted over Christmas, consider temporarily replacing them with an activity that’s available. Mable Last Minute allows you to find support workers that are available within 4 to 48 hours.
- Share a calendar for your itinerary with family and support workers, so they know what’s on your agenda leading up to Christmas.
- Plan ahead - If you do want to spend Christmas with others, agree on times, preparations and locations so you can be organised about transport, access and what to bring for the day.
- Review your NDIS budget and spending - Check how your funds are tracking so you know what’s available for extra support, community access or respite over the holidays.
- Check your medication supply - Make sure you have enough prescriptions to last through public holidays. Ask your GP for repeats if needed.
- Confirm who to call in a health flare-up - Write down your GP after-hours service, nurse-on-call numbers, local hospital and any specialist contacts, and keep them somewhere visible.
The holidays can be a wonderful time, but they can also bring a lot of feelings with them. So please be gentle with yourself, take breaks when you need them, and stay connected with the people who make you feel safe and supported. And if things feel a little heavier than usual, remember you don’t have to carry it alone; help is always available, anytime.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
13YARN: 13 92 76 (for culturally safe support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
Men’s Line: 1300 789 987