You Matter! Caregiver Awareness & Self-Care
Years ago.... self-care was an eye roll. A weakness. Last on the list.
Thankfully, this has changed; caregivers are no longer willing to be continually mentally exhausted, ill-nourished, overwhelmed, or physically unable to provide care, it causes too much additional family stress. While it is difficult to make time for yourself, you’ll hear it repeatedly: Make the Time for You.
Caregivers often have their head down, their task list in hand, and they execute logistics that would make a 4-star amazed. However, this focused effort is rarely sustainable. This will vary for everyone, but no one is a robotic machine forever. Please don’t wait until you fall ill or become so overcome that you don’t see which end is up. Sharing your experience and gaining perspectives with friends and other caregivers can be very beneficial.
You probably micro-schedule the rest of your life, so try to add good nutrition, exercise, relaxation, meditation, quiet, social time, or something that is yours into that schedule too. There are numerous options for small-group fellowship in local organizations, the faith-based communities, and sports facilities. Respite care is hard to find, so intentionally carving out time for you is necessary. Every little bit helps.
You need it. You matter. Take charge of your self-care.
Linda Kreter and the VeteranCaregiver Team
