Caregivers are reluctant for the most part to take time to meet their own needs. Whether you’re feeling guilty about taking time away from your senior to do this or you’re just so overwhelmed that you haven’t even thought about it, it’s time for you to look at what you need most right now.
Make Note of When You Give Yourself Time to Relax
If you’re not thinking about things like time for relaxation, chances are good that you’re not incorporating that time into your daily and weekly schedule. One way to get a strong visual understanding of this is for you to mark time for relaxation in your calendar. If you’re planning for it, you can do so in advance. Otherwise, be sure to mark that time afterward. You might be surprised just how little relaxation time you’re allowing yourself.
When Was Your Last Doctor’s Appointment?
Another aspect of assessing and meeting your own needs involves your physical well-being. When did you last go to your own doctor? You can probably list out your senior’s last five doctor’s appointments, but your own might be more difficult to remember. That’s an indication that you might be ignoring your own physical health, which is not something that is sustainable for you as a caregiver.
List Three Things You Can Do to Give Yourself More Time
When you’re a busy caregiver it’s really easy to think of reasons why you can’t give yourself more time. What’s a lot more difficult is sitting down and figuring out how to give yourself all the time you need and want. Take a piece of paper and write down at least three solutions to this problem. Some of the answers might involve hiring home care providers to give yourself a break, taking advantage of time when your elderly family member is otherwise occupied, or investigating activities that would give your senior something to do.
Set an Appointment with Yourself Every Week
This isn’t something that you do once and then forget about. If you’re not careful, you’re going to get yourself into a pattern in which you slack off and allow yourself to put you and your needs on the back burner continuously. Set a weekly appointment with yourself where you look at how you’re progressing with taking time for you.
Take the time to reflect about what is working and what isn’t working for you as a caregiver. This gives you the opportunity to adjust your schedule, find additional help, and make other changes that can help you to be more effective in caregiving and also support yourself emotionally and physically.
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Caregivers in Gulfport, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.
