Don’t let your own health fail while caring for others.
Caregivers are on call around the clock, they are often so selfless in their care of a loved one that they neglect to take care of themselves.
Did you know caregivers have a higher-than-normal incidence of getting sick? A higher rate of depression? They can become so depleted that they cannot maintain the stamina to continue caring for others.
Don’t let this happen to you. The following are 7 tips to nurture yourself physically, mentally and spiritually every day, even when you are at the bedside of another. Following these tips will help you find the health and happiness you deserve. And when you take care of yourself, you can care for your loved one even better.
1. Eat well-balanced meals and exercise every day.
And do so on a regular schedule. Take a daily multivitamin. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. Move your body daily, even if it’s simply 15 minutes of stretching, yoga, calisthenics or walking. Use the stairs to keep your circulation going.
2. Get outdoors
Fresh air renews the body and spirit — even if you only have time for a brief outing. When possible, open a window.
3. Treat yourself
That is, get treatments for your own aches and pains before they turn into something more serious.
4. Take time for yourself
Use relaxation or stress management methods such as meditation, visualization, and yoga. Books and videos are available to guide you in these techniques.
5. Read, pray or meditate for at least 15 minutes a day
Consume daily prayer books and helpful magazines like Today’s Caregiver and Caring Today, or books such as Chicken Soup for the Caregiver’s Soul to uplift your spirits. If you’re religious, seek the counsel of a spiritual leader you trust and respect.
6. Chuckle more often
Laugh, reminisce and share stories of happy times.
7. Ask for help
Although you may be hesitate to ask, friends, family and religious groups may be eager to assist and are only waiting to be asked and directed. Doing everything yourself deprives others of an opportunity to serve.
And Body Essentials Aromatherapy has some awesome aromatherapy products to help !
Simple but effective way for caregivers to take care of themselves. I recently spoke with two women who told me that they lost themselves in caring for their mother. What each woman meant was that she invested all her time and energy in taking care of her loved one.. This is usually the case, but in the process, you must take care of yourself as well.
Thank you, Marie, for reminding us of this in your post.
Thank you, Yvonne, yes we all will or have been the caregiver in different situations. Particularly the older we get! It often happens with us not realizing it. But so important to take care of ourselves too.