5 Tips for Veterans this Holiday Season

The holiday season seems to start earlier and earlier each year. I saw Christmas trees for sale in September at a local retailer. Not only does the season start earlier, it seems as if we have more to do. I am single without kids, and I have no fewer than six Holiday parties to attend. Plus I have to buy Christmas presents and plan a lot of activities around the holidays. It’s easy to get distracted and not pay attention to important things. During the holiday season, a lot of Veterans neglect their disability cases and that can be recipe for disaster. But there are some simple things that you can do to keep your disability claim focuses and to manage stress this holiday season.

1. Schedule appointments thoughtfully. You still need to go the doctor even though the snow is falling and there’s Christmas spirit in the air. Now, this can be tricky during the holiday season. However, it can be done. Let’s say you are working parents with two children and your spouse is also employed. Well, you’re likely going to have a bunch of parties and activities to attend. You and your spouse will probably both have a work-related holiday party to attend. You will also likely have a few functions to attend with your kids at their schools. If you have a bunch of friends, you will likely have to do something with them. So, November and December can get busy. However, you likely know well in advance when you’re going to have these events, so it can be easy to plan things ahead. Just make sure to sync up your schedule with that of your doctor’s office, and I am sure they can work you in at a convenient time. Just stick to your appointment. Don’t cancel it last minute unless you have to.
2. Take advantage of special days that aren’t very busy. Every doctor’s office is different. However, in our area, it seems like a lot are open on days like Black Friday and Christmas Eve. (If it falls on a weekday.) Schedule appointments for these days because they aren’t likely to be very busy. I had to help my mother get blood work last year. We went to the lab on Christmas Eve. We didn’t have to park far from the building, we waited for two minutes, and then we had the blood work drawn. We were in and out in 10 minutes.
3. Manage stress like a champion. Holiday shopping is the worst, and I say that as a fella who does not mind spending the day at the mall. However, holiday shopping leaves me wanting to pull my remaining hair out. I’ve never gone shopping on Black Friday, and this year will be no different. I am going to buy a record number of gifts online this year. With Amazon Prime, I really can’t go wrong buying online now. I get free two-day shipping on most of the things I buy and they have everything. If you’re a Veteran with PTSD, the mall on Black Friday is not a great place to be. Plus you have to deal with traffic, cold weather, and all-around nastiness. Stay home, grab your smartphone, and you’ll be good to go.
4. Spend time with your friends. This may sound odd, and I am not a psychologist, but spending so much extra time with coworkers and family can drive you crazy. It’s not that you don’t love these people, but a lot of extra time around them can have its moments. So, find time to hang with your friends this holiday season. Especially your true friends. In many cases, these people may your fellow Veterans. If it’s not, just make time for the people who you have the most fun with no matter what time of year it is. I do this with my oldest friend Shawn every year. We hang out, just the two of us. We have a gift exchange in which we buy gifts for each other that our family won’t. This usually means Hot Wheels cars and Action figures. Then we normally head to Athens, OH, see a movie, and just have a great time being ourselves. I highly recommend it for everyone.
5. Have fun. I am so glad I live in a time when odd Christmas celebrations are embraced. I live for a Yankee Swap, Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, and even a Festivus Celebration. They are the most fun you can have at Christmas. Stuffy parties are so 1996. Take some time to celebrate something that is just supposed to be fun.

Well, I wish you a Happy Holiday Season. Remember to have fun this Christmas. However, don’t let your case go by the wayside. If you would like some help with your claim, give us a call today for a free consultation. Our toll-free number is 1-877-526-3457. Or fill out this form if you’d like to be contacted at a different time.