Whether you’re caring for one parent or both of them, you cannot let the tasks overwhelm you. Leave time for self-care. These six areas are the ones you cannot ignore.
Choose Healthy Meals
After a busy day, as tempting as fast food is, skip it. Aim for a healthy meal that has lean proteins, whole grains, and vegetables. You don’t have to make it at home. Takeout options can be healthy. A poke bowl with greens or quinoa is a healthier option. Grain bowls are other options.
Personal Care and Grooming
It’s easy to put on comfortable clothes, skip washing your hair, skip skincare routines, and avoid shaving. If it makes you feel unattractive or a bit like a slob, it’s going to drag you down emotionally.
Take one day a week or every couple of weeks to pamper yourself. Shave, use a face mask to care for your skin, put on some cologne or perfume, and dress up a bit. It can boost your spirits. Don’t skip important tasks like brushing and flossing your teeth and trimming your nails.
Talk to Friends and Family Members
Don’t ignore your social needs. If you’re feeling lonely, get out and visit friends if possible. If not, arrange a video chat. You need to stay social as loneliness and isolation are tied to worsening emotional and physical health.
Get Enough Exercise
Make sure you’re getting the recommended 30 minutes of exercise each day. If you have time for more, that’s even better. Walk one day, ride a bike the next, and take a Zumba class on another. Experts recommend mixing up the types of exercise you do so that all muscles get a workout.
Know Your Limits
Know how much you can handle. If you’re tired and haven’t slept well in days, take a day off to catch up. Don’t push yourself so far that it affects your mental health. Remember that the immune system may not work as effectively if you’re failing to care for yourself. Taking breaks when needed can help you avoid getting a cold or the flu.
Spend Time Alone and Unwind
Leave time at the end of the day for “me time.” Take an hour or two and sit in a quiet room or area by yourself. Do something that relaxes you and helps you ease the day’s stress. If you like to read, read for an hour. If you love to knit, do that.
Senior care is one of the best ways to make sure you have time and energy for self-care. Instead of tackling so many chores that you are too exhausted to take care of yourself, hire caregivers. Have them take over some of the chores you’re doing each day. Learn more about caregivers by calling a senior care specialist.
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Senior Care in Seminole, 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.
