Most likely, one of your last thoughts when you’re a caregiver is about how to take better care of yourself. While you know you deserve rest and relaxation, it may be difficult to make that happen when your senior loved one is a priority. You can use these six tips to take care of yourself so you feel your best every day you report for duty.
1. Flip Negative Statements Around
Your thoughts influence how you feel throughout the day. Start paying attention to your inner soundtrack to determine how often you think negatively about yourself or the current situation, then try to flip those negative statements into positive ones. For instance, you could transform a thought about how you never get everything done into one that reaffirms you do your best every day.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your caregiving responsibilities, you don’t have to manage everything on your own. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help.
2. Set a Bedtime and Stick to It
You might not have had a bedtime since you were a kid, but most caregivers are constantly running short on sleep. Set a bedtime that allows you to get at least seven to eight hours of rest each night, and then be strict about sticking to it. Turn off your cell phone, shut off the lights, and sleep. If your loved one wakes you up at night, look into hiring an overnight caregiver so you’re fresh during each day.
Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs live-in care, Edmonton, AB, Home Care Assistance can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.
3. Find Solutions to Recurring Issues
It’s happened again. You find yourself running late to your loved one’s appointment, and you have nothing clean to wear. Alternatively, you find yourself snacking on a half-eaten granola bar you find in your caregiver bag. Take an honest look at the problems that seem to keep popping up every day. Most likely, there’s an easy solution. For instance, you could have someone else take over the laundry duties so you’re always dressed and ready to help with your loved one’s medical needs.
4. Enjoy the Soothing Power of Touch
You do all kinds of things for your loved one each day to induce relaxation, such as giving him or her a hand massage or washing his or her hair. As a caregiver, you can also benefit from the power of human touch. Go ahead and schedule that one-hour hot stone massage, or spring for a manicure to complement your next haircut. Feeling pampered every now and then can help you remember you also deserve to feel relaxed.
5. Take a Brief Time-Out
You don’t always need a lot of time to take care of yourself. Sometimes, just five minutes of deep breathing in another room may restore your peaceful mindset. Whether you read a funny joke or listen to a favourite song, mini-breaks can provide a great deal of stress relief.
6. Schedule Regular Respite Care
When things get stressful, you may be tempted to skip your breaks. For this reason, scheduling respite care ahead of time can help you remember that taking care of yourself is important. You can even plan special things to do during those times, such as going to the doctor or taking a class.
You can boost your long-term effectiveness as a family caregiver by making self-care a priority, and adding a professional caregiver to your support team can help you accomplish that. One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide in-home care. Edmonton families can turn to Home Care Assistance for reliable, high-quality home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties. For reliable in-home care services, contact us at (780) 490-7337.