May has a lot of special days for caregivers. It includes National Nurses Week, National Nursing Home Week and it is also Older Americans Month. It's a great time for us to recognize professional caregivers, but it should also be a time that we salute all caregivers. And that category would include most of us at one time or another.
The Challenge of Caregiving
Caregiving is hard work. It takes energy and commitment and can often leave the caregiver feeling drained or as if they have nothing left for themselves. Yet we know that we cannot pour from an empty cup so finding ways to care for ourselves, to refill our own cups is vital, both for our own health and wellbeing and for those for whom we care.
Prioritizing Self-Care
How do we prioritize caring for ourselves? It doesn't have to be complicated. First, think about those things that you would categorize as self-care. It might be sitting and listening to music, taking a walk, exercising, window shopping, and more. What matters is that it's something you enjoy. When's the last time you did that? What can you do today that might be self-care and how can you build it into your day and make it a commitment?
Finding What Works for You
For some, putting something on the calendar is a way to ensure it gets done. For others, it is a question of finding a routine that works for you. In my own life, I have found that exercise is critical to me for managing stress and feeling grounded. It took some time to develop the habit, but I get up early every morning and work out for 45 minutes to an hour. That time to myself, doing something that I enjoy, helps me throughout my day.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Self-care includes incorporating mindfulness. A lot of people think that means meditation and, indeed, it might. But meditation is far more than sitting quietly in a room for a period of time. Meditation can be found in movement. It can be found in nature. Meditation can be journaling or having a gratitude practice, which involves reflecting on those things you are grateful for in your life. You can do that as a silent practice; you can journal your gratitude or you can even share your thoughts with a spouse or partner or friend.
Taking Care of Your Health
If we are caring for ourselves, we realize we must prioritize our own health. Eating properly, staying hydrated, having good sleep habits, all the things we know about good health are things that may fall by the wayside when we are deeply involved in caring for someone else. We need to remember that, if we are not strong and healthy, we cannot really take care of anyone else.
What have you done for yourself lately? Where do you fall on your own list of priorities? Taking the time to care for yourself will pay dividends in the long run for you and for those you love.
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