Seeing as people seemed to enjoy my post back in the summer about the top 5 summer activities for chronic illness warriors, I have decided to do a Christmas version.

Christmas is traditionally seen as a time of year which is full of fun with never ending events and things to do. However when you are chronically ill some of these activities may not be appropriate inline with your body’s needs and your energy levels.

As we all know this year is going to be a very different year anyway, but I would like to share with you my top activities at Christmas when you have chronic illnesses.

1 – Feast on festive treats

One of the best things to do at Christmas time is snuggle up on the sofa with a big Christmas sweater and enjoy a nice mug of hot chocolate (marshmallows and cream are hard to resist!). Perfect for a chronic illness warrior because you are not only getting a festive treat, but you can relax on the sofa whilst doing so and stay true to your normal attire of baggy clothes for comfort just with a funky festive flare. Obviously this is allergy and diet dependent, so you may need to make adjustments where needed, but this time of year there are many Xmas foods you can divulge in.

2 – Watch Xmas films and/or tv

Watching films and/or television is a great chronic illness activity as it allows you to chill out and relax on the sofa or in bed without much physical activity. Christmas films and shows are a great form of escapism which in turn can give you a focus on something other than feeling unwell. Remember you can adapt this activity to your individual needs by choosing the length of film/programme you watch and deciding if this is an activity you would like to do alone or with others. For ideas on the best Christmas films to watch you can check out my blog post on my top Christmas film picks here.

3 – Sale shopping

I did debate a bit about whether to add this to the list because I am aware shopping (physical or online) can be very energy draining especially on a time line. I for one find shopping an activity which can wipe me out for days on end even if it is done through my computer. However if like me you find being chronically ill greatly effects your finances then finding bargains in the sale can be a lifeline on items you desperately need, but cannot normally afford. If doing this yourself is too difficult maybe you could put a list together of things you particularly need and ask someone else to do the investigating for you!

4 – Give back to charity

When you live with chronic illness a lot of your time can be taken up with having to think about your own needs (and how most of the time you are not listening to them), but Christmas is that time of year when you can be thankful for what you do have. Giving to charity is a wonderful way to allow yourself to take a moment and reflect on other people who are in the same boat as you (or worse) and make donations to the charities who are a lifeline to people in their moment of need. Remember it is not about the amount, but the thought and your donations do not have to be financial, they can be time or task related instead.

5 – Look to next year

As I have already mentioned Christmas is always a reflective time of year. The time of year to think about the year just gone and the new year ahead. Living with chronic illnesses this is maybe more poignant than it is to most others. Going into a new year unfortunately is not going to cure us or in most cases make us any better, yet that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have hope and goals for the future. I was always somebody who would make new years resolutions and beat myself up for not being able to achieve them when really they were always going to be unachievable with my conditions. Instead of making new years resolutions why not highlight your achievements for the year and remind yourself of how amazing you are, and how you can take these skills with you into the new year.

So here you have it – my top Christmas activities for chronic illness warriors. Hopefully you find these suggestions helpful, but remember there is no right or wrong. Your Christmas should be spent in your way, so enjoy!

There is no getting away from it – Christmas is getting closer! Seeing as it is the season for giving I thought it would be a good idea to talk about gifts you could give to your loved ones. I for one absolutely love the festive period, but living with chronic illnesses I find a) I don’t have the funds to buy elaborate presents for others and b) I don’t have the energy for boundless shopping (even if it is online).

With this in mind I have tried putting together five gift ideas which are low cost, easy to source and don’t require too much effort. Hopefully these inspire you to put together your own gifts, so enjoy getting creative!

Gift Idea 1 – Themed Jar

This idea is pretty simple all you need is a mason jar of any size with an idea of what the recipient likes and fill it. This could be in the form of beauty products, art accessories, socks, a specific hobby etc. Last year I actually used a bucket rather than a jar and filled it with car accessories as my relative had got a new car. For the purpose of this post I have chosen a baking jar.

My baking jar contains:

• Reindeer and Christmas Tree cookie cutter
• Pack of sweets
• A glass bottle containing Golden Hundreds and Thousands
• A glass bottle containing Silver Edible decorations
• Red and green decorating icing
• Wafer daisies
• Spotty fairy cake cases

To decorate the jar I used crafts I had at home including a reindeer ribbon and a wooden tag with a Christmas tree print.

Gift Idea 2 – A Christmas Decoration/A Snow Globe

This was probably my most favourite item to make because it is very straight forward yet looks very pretty and gives that personal touch. Once again you need a humble mason jar, some simple decorations (which you could take from your own tree) and some fake snow.

If you want to make this as a simple decoration like mine all you need to do is add all your bits inside the jar, but if you would like to make it as a snow globe glue your decorations to the lid so when you shake everything stays in place.

My Christmas scene includes:

• Faux snow
• Snowman decoration
• Post box decoration
• Berry decoration (held in snowman’s hand)
• Cone with wire
• Blue sparkly ribbon

Gift Idea 3 – Little Box of Love

This idea is very similar to the jar ideas, but on a smaller scale. Again you can pick any theme you would like or choose lots of random items. I chose to make a stationary box which I decorated myself with my own crafts and filled with tiny stationary items.

My Little Stationary Box includes:

• A wooden box (already made) – which I decorated with paint, and stocking, skates and snowflake sticker embellishments.
• Pen
• Stapler
• Staples
• Rubber
• Gel pens
• Key ring (not very stationary I know!)

Gift Idea 4 – Chocolate Bags – Best Low Energy Option

If crafting is not your thing or is too energy consuming then an easier option would be choosing someone’s favourite chocolates or sweets and presenting them in a cute Christmas bag. Who doesn’t like delicious treats at this time of year?

My Chocolate Bag includes:

• Cellophane Santa bag
• CHOCOLATE – Remember by doing this yourself you can cater to allergens and vegan options if needed.

Gift Idea 5 – Memo Memories – Best Low Cost Option

This option is for anyone who is finding money a real difficulty this year (or any year) – I feel you and trust me I am using this myself. This is actually probably the most thoughtful gift of the lot which will mean so much because it focuses on memories. You can use any medium you like whether that be a box, a jar, a container or even an empty cereal box – anything you can find in the house.

Got it? Great now all you need is paper and pens – again in whatever form you have them. Craft paper, wrapping paper, plain paper, card whatever you have. As long as you have enough to make say 10 (maybe more) squares which you can add writing to. Once you have made your squares all you need is your imagination.

On each square write a memory, a film, a song lyric, a photo anything that is personal between you and the person you are making it for. Once you finished them, fold them up and drop them in your container with a little message to the recipient to take one out when you see fit. Maybe one every day for the 12 days of Christmas, or when they are feeling sad, or when they want to think of you. The point being it should be a great way to remind them of why you love them and the happy times you have shared together – what could be better than that?

So there you have it my five ideas for low cost (hopefully low energy) gifts for others. Remember it is the thought that counts and there is no rush with how long it takes you to put things together. Remember there are always gift vouchers!