Love is the first ingredient in any caregiver’s journey. We care for someone we love who needs help with navigating an illness or loss of function in some physical or emotional way.
Many caregivers gradually fall into the role. It is a rare situation for a family to be completely prepared to undertake all of the nuances of caring for a loved one. The physical, emotional, and often financial burdens associated with caring for a loved one who has received a difficult diagnosis of cancer, dementia, or any one of a myriad of health issues is often life changing and stressful. It is not the way we think things were supposed to go. Yet there you are, filling the gaps that the medical system does not address, and tending to the intimate care needs of your loved one.
Not taking care of oneself can lead to caregiver burnout. Unfortunately for the majority of caregivers, we forget about the love part of the equation as it relates to us, and our mental and physical health can suffer as a consequence. Self-care is an act of love and very few know how to use it especially when it is needed the most. When caring for others, we forget to manage our own well-being. As the story goes, when on a plane and the emergency instructions are being demonstrated, parents are told that in the event of an emergency put the oxygen mask on yourself first, then tend to your child. This analogy works for the caregiver as well.
Learning how to take a step back and make sure that you are taken care of can be one of the most difficult aspects of caring for a loved one. Yet, it can open the path to a deeper and richer relationship and quality of well-being for all involved.
What’s Holding You Back from Self-Care?
Who has time for self-care? You have to work, take care of your family, and figure out how to care for someone who is ill or requires special attention. Where is the time?
The reasons to avoid this concept seem to provide enough evidence to make the thought of self-care indulgent and a waste of time. You are not alone. Here is a partial list of what caregivers say when asked why they avoid self-care:
There is not enough time
There is too much going on to take the time for myself
I feel guilty if I take time for myself
Depression gets in the way
It is selfish and people will judge me
It is too hard to manage competing responsibilities
No one can take care of my loved one as well as I do
The first rule of caregiving (and living) should be to practice self-care every day. By self-care we mean that you engage in behaviors that are nurturing, calming, and renewing. We are not talking about potentially harmful stress reducing quick fixes that can be harmful such as the use of unhealthy foods, alcohol, or drugs that some confuse with self-care. Evaluate your self-care routine by asking yourself questions like:
Do I get enough quality sleep?
Am I eating healthy foods that make me feel nourished?
Do I have a support group or person I can turn to when faced with a difficult situation?
True self-care is the tool that alters caregiving from being a tidal wave of things to do to an experience that can bring a sense of deep service and heartfelt care. When you take good care of yourself, you can support someone who is in need of care with the kind of presence that has them feeling supported and loved.
8 Tips for Self-Care for Caregivers
Caregivers often report that tending to their own well-being and health concerns is really difficult while managing the needs of their loved one. While self-care often simply relates to sleep, diet, and grooming, it is also largely about identifying the unique activities and needs that nurture you and make you feel energized.
1. Start small.
Once you identify one or two areas that you are willing to work on, try to make it a point to start small. A small change in your daily routine or with a habit may help give you a renewed perspective on all the tasks on your plate.
2. Keep a self-care routine.
Create a routine that you become protective about. Whether it’s a morning walk, exercise routine, or a cup of tea at a certain time, guard it and enjoy it. This is vital and will have you quickly realizing that it is truly okay to prioritize what you need to do to be more available to do your caregiving.
3. Pay attention to your senses.
From the most basic aspects of self-care, listening to what our senses are telling us is a vital place to start to figure out what might be most useful to your self-care. Take the time to see, feel, hear, taste, and touch. Go outside and find something beautiful to you, listen to music, sit down for five minutes and breathe, get or give a hug to a person, an animal, or even a tree, or eat something comforting and soothing. All of these are ways to take care of yourself.
3. Speak with a therapist or support group.
There are many therapists and support groups available to caregivers. Whether in person or online, these are vital connections that can support you in the journey of caregiving.
A skilled therapist can help you process your feelings, give advice on how to set boundaries, and improve communication with your loved one and other family members. A support group can help with these issues as well, but the attention may be more generalized. Having someone specifically working with you on the specific challenges you are facing can bring a lot of peace very quickly.
Also be aware that other forms of counseling are provided by professional care organizations as well. For example, hospice providers often offer specialized grief counseling.
4. Schedule days off and respite care.
Planning time off is essential when you are a caregiver. It is the thing that allows you to be fully present when you are with your loved one.
For those who are caring for someone who needs daily around the clock care, there are services and facilities that provide respite care. Respite care can be done in the home, at specialized day-care centers, and in facilities that offer overnight stays. Respite is a service that can be set up for a few hours, a day, a few days, or a few weeks.
5. Be practical, know your limits.
If you need help, ask for it. There are ways to ask others for help as a caregiver, or if you are having difficulties navigating the healthcare system your loved one uses, ask to speak to a Social Worker or Hospitalist. They can and often do provide amazing information and service. Take the time to set up online bill paying so you save time in the long run.
6. Be kind to yourself.
No one is perfect, and you are human. Mistakes will be made. Slow down when things get tough by:
Paying attention to what you are doing and breathe with awareness.
Speaking and thinking kind thoughts about yourself
Developing a gratitude practice
Reflecting in a journal.
Calling a friend.
7. Reward yourself.
When you take that much deserved time off be sure to include doing something special for yourself. Always remember that you deserve to take the time to do the things that bring you joy and a sense of peace. This could include:
Buying yourself some flowers
Getting some body work done like a massage or facial
Practicing yoga
Go on a special walk somewhere you love
Curl up with a great book
When it comes to self-care, the possibilities are endless. What makes you feel at peace, clear, calm, or even renewed? You can generate a high level of well-being for yourself by starting with something small and being consistent in practicing it. Try caring for yourself to the level that you want to provide to your loved one and see what happens!
Author: Audrey Meinertzhagen