When you are a caregiver for a loved one it is extra important to take care of yourself. Self-care can feel like a challenge when trying to balance work, family, and personal commitments. Daily expectations, sandwiched between a part-time or full-time job, can be stressful as you try to get everything done and make everyone happy. The following suggestions are ways you can nurture yourself next time you get to feeling stressed out:
Treat yourself as you would someone you love. Maybe you deserve a fancy coffee drink or some fresh flowers, a phone call with long distance friend, or a nice hot bath.
Give yourself a “put-up”: it’s so easy to put ourselves down, see if you can think of a few genuine compliments about yourself. You are a caregiver and deserve to be complimented, it’s ok to give it to yourself.
Be kind to your mind by bringing calm: even just little deep breathing can settle a racing mind. Different techniques work for different people, some focus of breathing techniques while others prefer calming music. There are a variety of meditation and self relaxing apps available as well such as getbreathe.com or Prana Breath
Check out a support group for caregivers: the challenges faced by caregivers are unique and you may find that many people can’t relate. Pima Council On Aging facilitates regular support groups just for caregivers all across the Tucson area. To find a group near you, check out their listings: CLICK HERE.
Consider a little respite by using a home care company for a few hours each week: When you are the primary caregiver for someone who needs a lot of care, or even full-time care, just a small break from this role can make a world of difference. You can get a 4-hour respite shift with Catalina In-Home Services for about $100. It is not uncommon for a family to work together to get a few regular shifts in place and provide respite to the primary caregiver. If you need to take a trip somewhere respite care can fill in while you are out of town. Feel free to CONTACT US if you’d like more information about how respite care works and how it might support you.
