Being a caregiver for your elderly loved ones can be one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. It can be a joy to be able to care for someone you love who is in need. As your loved one grows older and your role as caregiver requires more and more of your time, efforts, and resources, it’s very likely that stress builds up. Family, marriage, work and other obligations all require your attention. Caring for your special loved one is usually a job that goes unrecognized (and unpaid). Over time, this can wear a person down!
Operating under this prolonged stress will lead directly to burnout. “Burnout reduces your productivity and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful. Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give.” [source] You put your own health (physical, mental and emotional) on the line and everyone depending on you will be affected to some extent. Thankfully, this stress related depression can be reversed but it is preferable to avoid it, if possible.
The first step is to recognize whether or not burnout is something that might be in your future. If it is, here are some simple tips that can help you set aside some guilt-free “me-time” to help you avoid the pain:
- Seek out other individuals who know what you’re going through for support and advice. Talking about your experiences with a support group or a trusted friend can make a big difference.
- Accept your emotions, whether good or bad. At any given time, you may be feeling some combination of any number of emotions. Some of these emotions, such as anger, can leave you feeling guilty, but give yourself a break. You are only human after all.
- Get healthy physically. It’s important to exercise and eat well because a healthy body is better prepared to deal with stress. Getting into a habit of regular exercise, enough sleep, and a healthy diet can boost your energy levels and help you feel more balanced.
- Take a part of every day to do something that makes you happy, such as reading a book, listening to music, crafting/hobbying, meditating, or getting outside.
- Know your limits and get help when you reach those limits. Set realistic goals and expectations for yourself and your care. Also, realize that sometimes you can’t do everything yourself and that’s ok.
- Above all, taking care of yourself and being a caregiver goes hand in hand so there’s nothing wrong with giving yourself some grace and taking advantage of (or creating) down time to breathe and relax!
Do you have any other tips for eliminating stress from your life? Please share in the comments!
For more reading on burnout go to:
wiseGEEK – What is burnout?”
Help Guide – Burnout Signs & Symptoms
Senior Helpers North NJ 