Skip to main content

Practicing Self-Care for Caregivers

Caring for aging parents can be a rewarding yet time-consuming and stressful job. You want to ensure that they are receiving the best care possible, they are safe, and their needs are met, yet you must still balance your own life, family, career, and needs at the same time. There are only so many hours in a day, and it can feel overwhelming.

It is important to remember that you can’t take care of others if you’re not taking care of yourself. You need time to recharge your own batteries and practice self-care. If this isn’t something you’re doing already, make sure you find time so you don’t burn yourself out.

Ask for Help.
You don’t have to do everything on your own. Talk to family and close friends about everyone pitching in and taking care of your loved one. Delegate responsibilities so everything is not on your plate. If you don’t have a lot of family or anyone nearby, look into local resources that can provide support.  For instance, there might be respite care programs or in-home caregivers that can spend time with your senior and give you a break.

Take Time for Yourself.
Even 30 minutes a day can make a positive difference. Focus on doing yoga or meditating to destress and clear your mind. Have lunch with a friend or spend time practicing a hobby. Go for a walk, listen to music, or sit down with a good book. Do something for yourself that you enjoy. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive, just an activity that makes you happy.

Try not to feel guilty about this time either. You deserve a break just like everyone else. Remember that you can’t be at your best if you’re physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. Start building time into your schedule for self-care now to keep on top of things.

Pay Attention to Your Health.
Listen to your body and pay attention to how you are feeling. Try your best to get enough sleep each night so you can allow your body and mind to rest and recharge. Fill up on healthy, nutritious foods that boost your energy, your mood, and your immune system. When you don’t make time to take care of yourself, you may end up feeling more depressed, stressed, or lethargic. It can become difficult to find the motivation to do anything, whether for yourself or others.

By making self-care a priority, you can begin finding ways to get support as a caregiver. You may find that connecting with others who are also caring for aging parents can help. Look into available senior care services such has Always Best Care to schedule an in-home caregiver to come out and assist your loved one a few hours a day or a few hours a week depending on their needs. Accepting help can be a big stress reliever, and you’ll soon see how much your senior benefits (and you do too). Get started today by calling (855) 470-2273 to schedule a free consultation.



from Always Best Care https://ift.tt/2Xf2tee
via IFTTT
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For Family Caregivers, A New Year’s Resolution Can Inspire Your Best Year Yet

If you are among the 8% of Americans who actually accomplish their New Year’s resolution goals , well done! However, if you are like the majority of us, you’ve given up prior to even turning the calendar page to February. Although it is undoubtedly commendable to attempt to better ourselves by resolving to lose 10 pounds or with healthier living, for busy family caregivers, there are truly meaningful, achievable goals that will improve life all through the year. Consider these recommendations: Find joy. Looking after somebody else is a labor of love, but can also bring about challenges, which makes it hard to concentrate on the daily benefits that spark joy. Devote some time on a daily basis to pause and discover a reason to smile. Bring a sense of humor to your daily caregiving tasks, sharing laughter together with your loved one. Enjoy the feeling of the sunlight shining through the window as you’re folding laundry. And make time to call someone who lifts your spirits for a brief...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dads and Pops: Your Good Health Matters to Us 

Did you know  June is  Men’s Health Month  and Father’s Day anchors Men’s Health Week ?   Celebrate dad on Father’s Day and thank him for all he  has  done, but  also  make sure to seize an opportunity sometime this month to have a conversation with him about his health. This awareness campaign has the critical purpose of informing men   that avoiding preventive healthcare puts them at real and serious risk of  contracting a disease or  acquiring  a chronic condition.   Studies consistently  show the numbers go against men , particularly as they advance into their senior years.   Even with dramatic advances in diagnosis and treatment over the past 100 years, men’s life expectancy still lags significantly behind women. According to  Harvard Health ,  the gap is widening. In 1900, the life expectancy for women was 48.3 years vs. 46.3 for men. In 2017, it was 81.1 years for women vs. 76.1 for men. Harvard...
Post a Comment
Read more

How Does Caregiving Stress Affect Your Career?

Lots of caregivers believe that the stress they experience as a part of caregiving is something that they only experience in that situation. But stress doesn’t care where you are or what you’re doing. If you ignore it, you’ll find the effects of stress following you even to your career and that can be bad for multiple reasons. Stress Is Everywhere Stress is a normal part of life. It’s literally everywhere and it takes the form of both “good” stress and “bad” stress. So-called good stress makes you alert to dangers and can keep you from making mistakes that could prove harmful to you. Bad stress is stress that takes a toll on you mentally and physically. It’s a result of being hypervigilant for too long. Stress Doesn’t Stay in Categories Something else to understand about stress is that it doesn’t stay boxed up neatly. Your stress as a caregiver will flow into the rest of your life, including your career and your other relationships, unless you take steps to manage it appropriat...
Post a Comment
Read more