How to Make Dealing With Infertility During the Holidays a Little Easier
If you’re like many people, your holidays include eating a lot and spending time with loved ones. This can be a wonderful tradition, but it can also be a little draining, especially if you’re focused on overcoming infertility. It’s completely normal to feel a little overwhelmed, which is why we present some easy coping mechanisms to help you make the best of the holiday season and beyond.
Practice Self-Care
It’s a good idea to prioritize your healthy activities when life is tempting you with little indulgences. Make sure you keep up the following self-care rituals:
- Get plenty of sleep
- Eat a balanced, nutritious diet and drink lots of water
- Indulge only slightly when it comes to rich desserts and alcohol
These tips may seem a little obvious, especially if your fertility specialist has been repeating them during your appointments. However, it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
Control Your Own Narrative
We previously blogged on the subject of how to talk to your family about infertility, and this advice holds true during the holidays.
- Plan it out. Decide in advance how much you want to reveal and to whom.
- Be an educator. Make sure you’ve answered all your own questions before bringing up the topic with others.
- Be patient. Remember that your friends and family members have your best interests at heart.
It’s not always easy to remain calm and collected during discussions of infertility. Planning ahead and staying in control of the topic will help you feel good about sharing your news. And remember: If someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, simply and politely change the topic, or excuse yourself to use the restroom. You have every right to maintain your personal boundaries when it comes to infertility.
Look to the Future
If you find that holidays — with the accompanying barrage of family cards in the mail — serve as a persistent reminder of infertility, turn this to your advantage. Take this opportunity to begin working toward starting a family by scheduling an appointment with a fertility specialist, finding a support group or reading up on helpful information. The New Year is right around the corner; let your resolution be to start or continue fertility treatment, all in. Your positive, forward-thinking approach can go a long way toward making fertility treatment a success.
Washington Fertility Center wishes you a happy holiday season! For more inspiration, be sure to check out 10 Quotes to Inspire and Encourage Those Facing Infertility.