Try these tips to alleviate caregiver stress and restore peace of mind.
Caring for someone you love is a great honor and incredibly rewarding. Yet it can also become overwhelmingly stressful at times. If left unaddressed, this stress can manifest into burnout, depression, and other serious health concerns. Try these tips to alleviate caregiver stress and achieve a more calm and healthy lifestyle, both for yourself and for the family member in your care.
How Can Caregivers Ease Stress?
Make time for calming activities. It isn’t always easy to carve out time for yourself. However, spending even as little as ten or fifteen minutes on an enjoyable pastime can greatly improve your mood and outlook by diverting your attention away from your care duties. If you’re unsure where to begin, consider reading, arts and crafts, spending time with kids or pets, gardening, a DIY project, or even just a brisk walk in the fresh air.
Watch your inner dialogue. The way you speak to yourself can have a huge impact on your stress level. If you find yourself with thoughts such as, “I can’t do anything right!” or “Everything always goes wrong!” try to pause and change your thinking to a more positive slant. For instance, say to yourself instead, “Help is here for me whenever I need it,” or, “I can do this one step at a time.”
Take a break. The following tactics can go a long way towards lowering your stress level:
- Get some type of physical activity: jumping jacks, going up and down the stairs several times, or going for a walk if you’re able
- Take a few deep breaths by inhaling as you count to four, then holding your breath and counting to four again, exhaling as you count to four, and holding your breath as you count to four again (and repeat as needed)
- Put on a favorite song and sing along
- Pray or meditate
- Write your feelings and thoughts down in a journal
- Call a family member or friend
You can also investigate apps that have been created to help family caregivers reduce stress. Click here for a few to try from DailyCaring.
If you are a solo caregiver without a strong network of support, you’re more likely to become burdened by caregiver stress. Thankfully, there is a solution available to you! Contact Home Matters Caregiving to gain a trusted partner in care to help with a wide range of caregiving tasks, such as:
- Assistance with personal care and hygiene
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Meal planning and preparation
- Grocery shopping and other errands
- Transportation and accompaniment wherever a senior would like to go
- Companionship for enhanced socialization
- Medication reminders
- And much more
