When you’re taking charge of the wellbeing of your loved one at home, then you’re a family caregiver. Your role is very important, especially in the wellbeing of your family member who needs your assistance. This responsibility is very uplifting, but it can also be demanding and stressful in the long run.
For this reason and for their own and their loved one’s sake, family caregivers should seriously consider and set aside time for self-care. As the terminology itself says, you will need to find time to care for yourself and address caregiving issues that might lead to stress and burnout. If the welfare of your loved one worries you, there are dependable home care provider in San Bernardino, California who can temporarily step in for you while you spend some “me” time.
Know that self-care benefits not just you but also the family member you’re caring for. Therefore, doing it should not make you feel guilty. In fact, self-care can build you up mentally, emotionally, and physically.
What self-care activities can you go for? As a non-medical home care provider, we would like to offer simple suggestions, such as the following:
- Get a full body massage
The demands of caregiving can also lead to muscle tensions, which lead to unwanted physical pains. These tensions can be relaxed and relieved with even an hour worth of massage. This is your way of pampering yourself for a job well done. Being able to relax can help you become a better family caregiver. - Spend quality time with family and friends
The close relations you have will serve as your immediate support group in the caregiving journey. They are the people who will cheer for you, hug you, and comfort you when you need these. However, caregiving can keep you from having quality time with them. Hence, it’s wise to be intentional in spending time with these people, so you can nurture your relationship, and in so doing, strengthen your mental health. Schedule for some dinner date, movie time, or even a quick visit to an amusement park. - Work out
Exercising is very beneficial for every person, and one of its immediate results is the release of happy hormones. Right after working out, you will feel energized, refreshed, and relieved. Family caregivers can surely benefit from this active lifestyle so they can have a healthy outlet of their stress. - Engage in arts
When we get stressed out, we also become emotionally overwhelmed. Participating in art activities allows us to have a creative outlet for these emotions to be released so that we can relax and regain our happy feelings once again. We need this in our caregiving role.
At Motherly Comfort Home Care LLC, we partner with family caregivers to ensure that you will continue to deliver quality and compassionate care. Among others, we help provide home care service in Upland, California, especially when you need extra hands at home.
Take time to care for yourself. We’re here to help you.