Caring for Yourself as a Carer

In our previous blog post, we shared information and resources available through the NDIS to provide help for carers of the elderly. That article discussed the external support system and networks that are available to you.

In this article, we will share some other tips and tricks to help ensure that you are able to care for yourself while being a loving family member as well as a great carer. 

Stay Physically Active 

Whether you enjoy long walks on the beach, hot yoga classes at the gym or workout videos in front of the laptop, staying physically active is very important to provide support for carers and ensure they are taking care of their health and wellbeing.

Exercise has a number of physical benefits including: 

• Decreased stress hormones
• Stronger muscles and bones 
• More energy
• Improved self-image and self-confidence. 

Exercise also helps produce endorphins which help boost your mood and control pain even after the exercise has finished.

Make Healthy Food Choices

With long and physically and emotionally draining days, it can be tempting to grab takeaway or order dinner from online delivery services. However, maintaining a healthy diet that follows the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating is really important to ensure that your health is a priority as well. 

Try to schedule a time to shop and cook for fresh and tasty foods that you enjoy to keep your body healthy and provide you with the energy that your carer role requires. 

Enjoy Things that Make you Happy

Scheduling time for things that make you happy is important for your health and wellbeing. One recommendation from support services for carers is to carve out time for yourself and make a list every Sunday night of 7 things that you enjoy doing. 

Every day choose one of them to boost your mood. These activities could involve calling a close friend, buying yourself a treat, or watching an episode of a show that you enjoy on Netflix. 

Take Time Out to Relax

Relaxation includes both physical and emotional relaxation and is an important part of caring for yourself.

Physical relaxing includes care of your bones and muscles so that you can prevent or reduce pain in your neck or lower back. Investing in a product such as an adjustable lower back support or a back eze mark can help provide this level of comfort. 

Research has shown that scents help you relax and aid in better sleep. Turning on something like an air humidifier with aromatherapy can significantly assist with this. 

Become Part of a Religious Community

Being surrounded by other people who share similar goals or values is another way of staying grounded and helping to put things into perspective. 

Actively religious people are more likely to describe themselves as very happy than their less religious counterparts. Being part of a religious community can help provide a different type of support for carers, give you structure as well as a support network of people. 

See Friends

As the old saying goes, “a problem shared is a problem halved.” While it can be difficult to find time to socialise, catching up with friends and sharing your experience can be very beneficial. 

Social networks can:

• Listen to your challenges 
• Provide different ways of thinking about a situation 
• Help come up with new solutions or ideas.

Overall, it is important to make sure that you are doing whatever you can to care for your own wellbeing for so that you can provide the best care possible and achieve the best outcomes for everyone. 

Here is a checklist to take care of yourself as a carer

1. Am I getting enough regular exercise?
2. Am I trying to get enough sleep and rest?
3. Do I have someone I trust to talk about how I am feeling?
4. Am I trying to eat regular meals?
5. Do I get enough breaks from caring?
6. Have I got some regular times for relaxation?

In conclusion,

Always remember when you are a caregiver, it's not selfish to concentrate on your own needs and desires — it's an important part of the job. You are responsible for your own self-care. Concentrate on the following practices in self-care:

• Understand and use techniques to reduce stress, such as meditation, prayer, yoga and Tai Chi.
• Get adequate nutrition and rest.
• Take time off and do not feel guilty.
• Watch out for your own healthcare needs.
• Exercise on a regular basis, albeit at a time for only 10 minutes.
• Seek someone else's help and embrace it.
• Identify and accept your emotions, you're entitled to ALL of them.
• Take part in fun, relaxing things, such as reading a good book, taking a warm bath.
• Seek helpful guidance when you need it, or talk with a trusted advisor, relative or pastor.
• Adjust the ways you view circumstances negatively.
• Set goals.

Live your best life!