Avoiding Caregiver Burnout
In the course of caring for your loved one, you may find yourself experiencing caregiver burnout. Though it may sound intuitive enough, caregiver burnout is difficult to recognize and can often lead to unwanted feelings that are unconducive to providing compassionate care. Many caregivers, though they love their aging family members, can experience frustration and guilt as they integrate a new routine into their busy lives. This often goes unnoticed, but can make it much more difficult to provide the compassionate care your loved one deserves. It is totally natural to have these feelings, but it is important to deal with them in a healthy way that doesn’t create unmanageable stress in your own life.
Though caring for oneself looks different for everyone, we’ve outlined 5 key steps to follow if you find yourself needing a break. They are great starting points to jump off from to create more fun in your life when you find yourself feeling down.
Make a Schedule: Making a schedule is crucial to make time for yourself. It may seem simple enough, but a good schedule can be a lifesaver when things get too hectic. With a good schedule, you never have to worry about missing a thing.
Wake Up Earlier: Waking up earlier is one way a lot of people with busy schedules make more time for themselves. Waking up early in the morning can give you some alone time to ground a calming mood for yourself before facing the day.
Do Things You Enjoy Together: A great way to improve morale if you are feeling down is to better connect with your loved one. Reading books you both enjoy or simply going for walks can be a great way to connect and relax if tensions are high.
Get Creative: Oftentimes schedules keep us from taking the small risks that make life fun. Don’t be afraid to take time for yourself for a day. Many adult day centers like the Silver Fox exist that allow you to just relax at home or explore a new part of town to shake things up.
Ask for Help: Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you feel stressed. There are many places like the Silver Fox Adult Day Centers or other facilities and in-home care services available if you feel overwhelmed.
Though it may seem simple enough, taking care of yourself is just as important as caring for your loved one. Make sure to recognize the signs before you feel too overwhelmed as it is easy to avoid with careful planning, patience, and mindfulness.
Sources & Further Reading:
“Signs of CAREGIVER Burnout and How to Prevent It.” VITAS Healthcare, https://www.vitas.com/family-and-caregiver-support/caregiving/caregiver-life-balance/signs-of-caregiver-burnout-and-how-to-prevent-it.
