Caregiving is one of the challenging jobs to exist because you’ll be demonstrating the utmost care to a complete stranger. As such, it can get draining because you’ll forget to take care of yourself from time to time. You have to make this a priority because you cannot pour from an empty cup. You have to exercise proper self-care so you can extend the same care to your patients as well.
Caregivers work with experienced senior living advisors, who identify what kind of senior care their family member needs. The care needed may be mild or extensive, depending on the senior’s current state. You can exercise the following self-care tips as a caregiver:
Allocate a Time for Rest
Any kind of work demands some rest for a considerable amount of time. The body needs rest because it’s the only time it regains its strength. If the body does not get the much-needed rest, diseases and illnesses will start to manifest. So take care of yourself by allocating a day or two for resting. You can take a nap or take a stroll in the park to relieve your mind of the stress.
Not taking the time to rest can lead to irritability, concentration, and loss of interest in your regular tasks. These things can greatly affect your job if you neglect this primary need. Take a rest whenever you can.
Exercise
Exercising can greatly improve your mood, reduce stress, and can make you physically fit. Just like rest, exercising is also a must. Hit the gym whenever you can to maintain your physical fitness. On the other hand, you can also jog within your neighborhood every morning and afternoon after your shift. Make it a routine to exercise daily to keep you healthy.
Set Realistic Goals
Goals are good because they keep you on track with your tasks of the day. When setting goals, it’s important to be realistic to avoid burnout or stressing ourselves too much. Set goals that are attainable and make sure that you have a work-life balance at the end of the day.
Join a Support Group or Talk to Your Fellow Caregivers
If there’s a group of people who can understand your burden, it’s your fellow caregivers. Join a support group or talk with your fellow caregivers, and you’ll be surprised at how other caregivers are facing the same problem. You will feel relief if you unload your troubles because you can conclude that whatever you’re feeling is normal. Don’t take it all alone.
If you take all your problems alone, you are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, or other mental problems. Talk to your friends once in a while to share with them your troubles.
Drink Plenty of Water and Eat a Balanced Diet
Health is wealth as always. Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet to ensure a healthy body. Get rid of junk food because it can cause health problems and will do nothing good for your body. Your diet should consist of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains. For the water, you should drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water or half a gallon of water every day.
Drinking plenty of water and eating a balanced diet is a lifestyle that you should practice every day because it ensures that you perform at your best. You’re less likely to have health problems if you practice this lifestyle. You’ll feel lighter and healthier. Moreover, you’ll want to keep up with this lifestyle once you see the difference.
For a profession that requires you to give the utmost care to the patients, it’s necessary that you also take care of yourself. The elderly need all the care and love they can receive from you, so you need to be at your best. It’s a struggle among caregivers because they’re so used to giving care to their patients that they forget to care for themselves. You have to practice self-care first before you decide to care for others.
Caregiving is not an easy job because there is a lot to deal with. You have to consider the fact that the patient you’re taking care of is a mother, father, or a sibling to another person. Hence, the level of care that you should provide is similar to the care you give to a family member. The utmost level of care is only possible if you are the best version of yourself. If you feel like you won’t be able to provide the expected level of care, you need to shower yourself with love and self-care.
