Every day, millions of people across the United States give care to people with mental and physical challenges. They range from family members to trained aides to nurses. No matter which category they are in there is always the risk for mental and physical exhaustion. Fortunately, there are steps and strategies one can use to prevent these things from happening.
One thing caregivers often don’t do is put themselves first in care. While the person or persons they care for needs attention, it is just as important to take care of personal health. This means making sure to eat healthy, get enough sleep at night, and try to exercise. Even if it’s only 15 minutes a day, exercise can really improve one’s mood and physical functioning.
The above tips are mostly regarding physical health. However, psychological health is also important to take care of. There are ways to help make sure the mind stays in balance. One is to not ignore emotions. Emotions are powerful things, and they can also be dangerous if bottled up. If there is an overwhelmed feeling, try to reach out to someone to talk to them about it. Letting it out is better than keeping it in. Another way is to go outside. Fresh air and the outdoors have a way of rejuvenating the spirit. Finally take at least 15 minutes out of the day to just slow down. Reading, meditating, and praying are great ways to wind down after a stressful day. Finally, if the situation continues to get worse, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are people and organizations who would be happy to have the chance to do so.
Learn more:
https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/self-care-for-caregivers
