Care for the Caregiver

Every caregiver needs to take a step back from time to time and focus on their own well-being and happiness, both for their own sake and the sake of the residents who depend upon them to provide top-notch care.

The next time you’re feeling stressed out or exhausted, try one (or more!) of these strategies to put a smile back on your face:

•  Think of yourself like you would a resident. Care for yourself with the same intensity and attentiveness as you would someone else. Don’t overlook aches and pains, hunger or fatigue.
• Develop outside interests. If we’re not careful, our jobs can become our entire world. Fight this by taking up a hobby, planning regular get-togethers with friends or joining a community group.
• Don’t let others bring you down. We can’t always control who our coworkers are, but we’re in complete control of how their actions and attitudes affect us. Try to surround yourself with positive people with similar goals.
• Take a vacation. Many of us don’t use our vacation days because we don’t want to lose wages, but you’re more likely to get burnt out if we don’t take time off to relax once in a while. You don’t need to plan an elaborate trip – sometimes a “staycation” can be just as reinvigorating!
• Take time to eat right and exercise. We’re often so busy that we think more about convenience than nutrition when mealtime rolls around. Then, when we finally get home, we collapse on the couch out of exhaustion. Try to take the time to plan out healthy meals for the week and squeeze in a walk or jog when you have even 20 minutes to spare. You’ll have more energy and feel less sluggish.
• Turn your home into a spa. Spa visits can come with hefty price tags, but you can create a similar environment at home with scented candles, bath bombs or bubble bath and rich moisturizers. Be sure to take some deep, cleansing breaths to help you rid yourself of stress.
• Remind yourself that you are important. It’s easy to lose sight of the very important role you play. Every day, you help your residents live happy, fulfilling lives!

 Do you have other strategies for caring for yourself? Head over to our Facebook page and share your thoughts with your colleagues. Be sure to “like” our page while you’re there!