How to Look After Yourself When Caring for a Loved One

If you are caring for a loved one, then there’s a high chance that you  have a lot of responsibility. There are career demands, financial concerns, errands to run, doctor’s appointments, and much more. Your “to do” list can quickly become overwhelming. With all of the demands being place on you, you may find it difficult to look after yourself. There are a few ways that you can turn this around.

Recruit Help

You don’t have to do everything yourself. In fact, it’s a good idea for you to have more than one person involved where possible. That way you have someone else who can accompany your loved one to their doctor’s appointments and help with the housework too. It doesn’t matter whether you have someone for an hour a day or whether it’s one day a week because every little bit helps and there is no shame in asking someone for a hand.

Get Rid of any Guilt

At times you might feel as though there is so much to be done that you should not spend time focusing on yourself. This is not the case at all. Give yourself credit for everything you do. You owe yourself time and attention as well. You may also be finding it difficult to come to terms with your feelings. Perhaps you find you are angry or resentful. That’s all very normal, but do consider talking things over with a social worker. It may also be worth you looking into home care assistance too, as alleviating stress will actually allow you to offer a higher level of care.

Stay Active

Believe it or not, frequent exercise can offer you numerous health benefits. It can lower your cholesterol and it can also help you to manage your blood pressure. Exercise can be a very powerful mood-lifter too, so try to get 30 minutes a day if possible. If this amount isn’t doable for you with the schedule you have then just do as much as you can. Anything is better than nothing and the more you can remember that, the better you’ll feel.

Stay Connected

Catch up with friends, plan out your weekly walks or even sneak in a movie. This will help you to reconnect with others and give you a much needed break from the demands of caring for a loved one. Remember, it is important that to spend time away from your caregiving role and maintain a connection to the things that you enjoy.

Music

Listening to music can provide a lift any time, any where. When you’re too busy to take a break, put on your headphones and listen to music while you clean, or shop, or on your way home from work. Little things like this can lift your mood and help you feel more relaxed and confident throughout the day.  There are so many playlists ready-made available on apps such as Spotify. When you download them to your phone, you will soon find that you have an easily accessible portable music library that will help you to beat those feelings of stress.