International Self-Care Day is nearly upon us, taking place each year on July 24th – so now’s the perfect time for caregivers to take a step back from their responsibilities and make sure that they’re looking after themselves as well as their loved ones.
Being a carer can really take its toll, physically, mentally and emotionally, so it’s important to check in with yourself regularly to ask yourself how you’re feeling and what you can do to ensure that you stay healthy and resilient, able to provide the level of care and support that’s required elsewhere.
Burnout is an all too real risk and something you need to be really aware of if you are a care provider, as it’s not something that will simply resolve itself over time and can lead to chronic health conditions like heart disease, depression and anxiety if you’re not careful.
So, with that in mind, here are some simple strategies from the Concept Care team to help you keep burnout at bay. If you need any further guidance or advice, make sure you get in touch to find out how we can help.
1. Consider respite care
As rewarding as it can be caring for a loved one, it can also be emotionally and physically demanding. If you need a break, long or short, using a respite care service ensures that you can enjoy peace of mind that your friend or relative is being properly supported, allowing you to truly get away from it all.
2. Try mindfulness meditation
Mindfulness meditation is a brilliant strategy to employ, helping you to be fully present in the moment and more aware of your thoughts, emotions and senses without being judgemental or overly reactive.
The aim is to use breathwork to anchor yourself in the present, observing how you feel with kindness – and the good news is that it can be done anywhere or at any time.
To practice it, sit somewhere quiet and make yourself comfortable, maintaining a relaxed posture. Draw attention to your breath, noticing the sensations as you breathe in and out. It’s inevitable that thoughts will enter your mind, but let them flow in and out without dwelling on them, bringing your attention back to the breath each time.
2. Don’t be afraid to say no
It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of saying yes to every request, but you could be putting undue stress on yourself as a result – even if what you’re being asked is unreasonable or you simply don’t have the spare capacity to give. Start trying to think about requests when they come in, rather than saying yes automatically.
4. Speak to a counsellor
It’s important to know that there is support out there if you need it and you don’t need to go it alone. If you don’t feel as though you have someone to talk to, seeing a therapist or counsellor could go a long way towards helping you, mentally and emotionally.
