In caring for an ill or aged loved one, to best help and care for them, making sure you are at your optimum health and fitness level is important.
In practicing self-care on a daily basis, you will avoid burnout, fatigue, and illness in yourself.
SIMPLE SELF CARE
I am not saying to go out get a gym membership or start training for a marathon. Self-care does not have to be complicated or expensive.
What self-care looks like for a caregiver:
- Sleep. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Rest when you can.
- Hydrate. It is easy to forget to drink water when you are focused on someone else.
- Eat something. Even a small snack. Even if you do not feel hungry.
- Take five minutes. Step outside. Breathe deeply. Look at the sky.
- Ask for help. You cannot do this alone. Let others step in.
- Say no sometimes. You do not have to attend every event or answer every call.
- Do one thing for yourself. Read a chapter. Stitch for ten minutes. Listen to a song you love.
Why self-care feels selfish – but is not.
Many caregivers feel guilty taking time for themselves. “I should be with Mom.” “I should be doing more.” “I do not deserve to rest while she is suffering.”
I felt this too.
But here is what I learned: when I neglected myself, I had nothing left to give. I was short-tempered, exhausted, and less effective as a caregiver.
When I took care of myself, I showed up better for my mother. I had more patience. More energy. More love to give.
Self-care is not selfish. It is survival.
A self-care challenge for you:
Today, take ten minutes just for you. Not for your loved one. Not for your job. Not for your family. For YOU.
Do not feel guilty. You deserve it. And the people you care for need you to be well.
What will you do with your ten minutes?