Self care for caregivers
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Caring for another adult — an ill spouse, aging parent or adult child with special needs — is a tremendous gift of love, time and effort.
Just keep in mind that when you’re constantly giving of yourself, you can run out of physical and emotional energy pretty quickly. And then you can’t give your best.
In other words, you should never feel guilty for taking good care of yourself, too. You deserve — and need — to be a priority.
Ask for help when you need it. If you reach the point where you’re often angry, it’s a sign that you’re overwhelmed.
Join a support group online or in person. You’ll feel less isolated and can share stories and ideas.
Make a little space for hobbies you love.
Take breaks each day. No one can put in maximum effort around the clock. Take a walk, meet up with a friend or just brew a cup of tea and calm your thoughts.
Get sleep — including naps when you need them.
If you can’t imagine how you’d fit time for yourself into your schedule, you might need outside help with things like transportation, meals and caregiving, itself. Visit caring.com for a comprehensive overview of available help, from volunteer organizations, paid agencies, government resources and even books and blogs.
In other words, you should never feel guilty for taking good care of yourself, too. You deserve — and need — to be a priority.
Ask for help when you need it. If you reach the point where you’re often angry, it’s a sign that you’re overwhelmed.
Join a support group online or in person. You’ll feel less isolated and can share stories and ideas.
Make a little space for hobbies you love.
Take breaks each day. No one can put in maximum effort around the clock. Take a walk, meet up with a friend or just brew a cup of tea and calm your thoughts.
Get sleep — including naps when you need them.
If you can’t imagine how you’d fit time for yourself into your schedule, you might need outside help with things like transportation, meals and caregiving, itself. Visit caring.com for a comprehensive overview of available help, from volunteer organizations, paid agencies, government resources and even books and blogs.
