“Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn’t know possible.”
― Tia Walker, The Inspired Caregiver: Finding Joy While Caring for Those You Love
Here is the question of the day: If caregivers are not feeling well, who is there to help those who need caregiving?
Don’t try to answer that. It is a rhetorical question. The point is that caregivers must make good health—physical and mental—a priority. One of the character flaws about being a caregiver is having an innate capacity for putting others’ needs before one’s own. This is not a negative trait, by no means; but it can contribute to health problems for the caregiver.
The truth be known, when one takes on the role of caregiver, he or she needs to immediately be more attentive to maintaining healthy habits than the average person. Caregiving burns lots of physical and mental energy. Eating a daily balance of meals with reasonable levels of fruits and vegetables is a good start. Included in that should be the engagement of some physical activity such as walking on a daily basis. And last, there needs to be a concerted effort to get adequate rest and to be sensitive to one’s stress threshold. To this latter point, having a strong religious and spiritual faith can be a great mechanism for processing stress. It also helps to be intentional about taking time to unwind and to laugh a little.
Remember: As a caregiver, you are a valuable asset. Treat yourself accordingly.
Contact Dr. McTyre at [email protected]
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