I'll Be Home for Christmas - Coping with the Holidays

Ways of Coping When You're Apart at the Holidays

• 1Volunteer for non-profit organizations or visit a nursing home.
• 2Donate time or money a homeless, battered-women or animal shelter.
• 3Bring some holiday cheer into work (if allowed).
• 4Send personalized holiday cards to friends, family and colleagues. In this era of e-mail, people still enjoy receiving "real" letters. You might get one in return and not have to face an empty mailbox.
• 5Knit, sew or crochet blankets or hats for the homeless, children or animals.
• 6Enjoy free activities: Look at holiday decorations. Window shop.
• 7Attend a religious service.
• 8Listen to free holiday concerts.
• 9Enjoy Christmas carolers. Join in the singing.
• 10Celebrate the holidays with family at a different time, when you are able to get away.

Coping at Work When You're Apart at the Holidays

1. Call friends, family or colleagues who are also alone for the holidays, or otherwise home-bound.
2. Adopt a Soldier Angel and contributing to their Holidays for Heroes.
3. Organize a gift exchange, "Secret Santa" or "Angel Buddies" for those working on the holidays. Decide on a monetary gift limit. Draw names and pick a time for the exchange or revealing "Santa" or the "Buddies."
4. Bring the holidays to work. Decorate your work area with lights, a Christmas tree or Menorah.
5. Share holiday traditions. Bake favorite bread and cookies for friends and "family" in the hospital or the community.
6. Volunteering to take call for those "who have a life." You can view this as a good deed and can make the call day more bearable.
7. Leave candy canes or Christmas roses in your colleague's mail boxes.
8. Realize that being in the hospital over the holidays you are caring for others who are dying, ill or injured that need your care.
9. Remember your patients are spending their holidays in the hospital away from their loved ones.
10. Realize that being in a military zone, watching out for peace and being away from loved ones is a small sacrifice to provide freedom for those at home.