Part of effectively managing the care of your loved one living in a nursing home is managing your own health. Self-care is a very big part of this. It is extremely difficult to balance work and caregiving, and caregivers too often suffer in a variety of ways during their caregiving journey.
Here is some advice that should always be followed: caregivers need to take time to take care of themselves! Looking for ideas? Here’s a few, but don’t forget that whatever you enjoy most is what you should focus on, not chores or routine tasks.
- Lounge at home in your comfortable clothes.
- Pet your animal companion.
- Watch your favorite movie.
- Take a nap
- Eat your favorite snack.
- Laugh.
- Buy yourself flowers.
- Play board games.
- Try a new recipe.
- Step away from the computer and make connections in person.
- Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a long time.
- Write a letter to someone on real paper and mail it at the post office (text messages don’t count for this task).
- Watch the sunrise or sunset.
- Meditate.
- Read a book.
- Take time to enjoy some free time, and don’t feel guilty about it!
The person who you are caring for depends on you. If your health suffers, you will not be able to be there for them while they need you. I believe that self-care is comparable to a bear hug. So, give yourself the gift self-care today, and get some bear hugs back into your life!
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