As caregiver, your job of keeping your loved one safe, happy, and healthy is a stressful one. But just like what flight attendants tell us in their safety demonstrations, you need to take care of yourself first before you can provide assistance to others. Easier said than done, right? Here are a few tips to help you take care of YOU.
When you are taking care of an aging parent or spouse, you may forget to focus on your own needs. Add in the demands of a job, children, or other family members, and suddenly you find yourself stressed out and exhausted at the bottom of the list of priorities.
The fact is that caregivers need to put themselves at the TOP of the list. You need to be in good shape physically and mentally to take care of those around you.
More than likely, you already know that stress is an issue in your life. You may be experiencing some of these symptoms:
Below are a few tips for managing stress. Even 15-20 minutes a couple times each day to concentrate on relaxation will make a world of difference.