It’s that special time of year, and for many people who are managing to live their lives with a cancer diagnosis, the holidays may bring additional challenges. Yes, the season can be stressful, and, yes, cancer brings its own unique stressors.

An important question is: How do you find joy during the holiday season while coping with this disease? The answer is begin by setting your goal to participate in activities that bring you happiness.

It might be helpful to take a moment to consider your strengths and focus on what has helped you thus far to navigate the challenges that cancer brings. 

When something stressful is happening, we first use our perception to assess the situation. How we perceive the event has much to do with the level of anxiety we feel. The more capable we feel, the less stress we feel. So, making it a point to remember the coping skills that you have developed over time helps. From the moment that we are born, we are called to make ongoing adjustments to the expected and unexpected events in our lives. It’s what we do.

Make the choice to bring joy into your holidays. For each of us that means something different. Think about the meaning of the holiday and what you value most about this time of year. Select the activities and spend time with people that contribute to this. Make the connections that are important to you. Be prepared and stay focused.

If you have been in treatment for cancer, you already know about managing your energy, but the holidays bring more demands. You cannot overextend yourself without consequences. Think about managing your energy budget over the holidays. There are many ways to do this.

Begin by monitoring your energy and take a break when you need to. If your energy is exhausted, that is likely to have a negative impact on your mood and behavior. It will be more difficult for you to cope. You will be unable to enjoy yourself. 

Prioritize: Do only the things that are important to you and your goal to be happy. 

Conserve: Pay attention to how you are feeling. If you can’t fit shopping into your schedule because of treatments or you just don’t feel well enough, shop smarter by buying online or finding a personal shopper. Take rests when you need to in between visits.

Delegate: Ask for help when you need it. Others want to lend a hand, so let them. You are allowing them to feel good about helping you.

Be grateful daily: A focus on gratitude helps you stay focused on the things that bring you joy. It is a simple exercise that helps you lead a contented life.

Marlene Quinlan, LICSW is an oncology social worker at Baystate Regional Cancer Program in Springfield.

This column, in which health professionals from Baystate Regional Cancer Program based in Springfield address issues related to cancer, runs monthly.

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