5 Unselfish Ways for Caregivers to Reduce Stress over the Holidays
The holiday season can be a whirlwind of fun, celebrating with family and friends, but it can also take a toll on an already overstressed family caregiver. Caring for another person often takes center stage over caring for yourself, but at Hired Hands Homecare in California, we want to provide you with some encouragement to make self-care a priority. After all, a relaxed, healthy caregiver is able to provide a higher quality of care than a frazzled one! Take these five recommendations to heart, and in doing so, help both yourself and those in your care:
- Eat a well-balanced diet
When you’re stressed out, you may tend to overeat. When you’re exhausted, it’s easy to resort to whatever is handy; quick snack foods, tea and toast, cheese doodles and soda. You need high quality food to perform well. - Get regular exercise
Exercise is the original “feel good” tonic. It helps you sleep better and wake up refreshed and ready to face another arduous day. Regular exercise improves both your mental and physical wellbeing, keeping your mind alert and body fine-tuned and energetic. - Get enough rest
This may be easier said than done, especially if you’re caring for someone who tends to wander at night. Still, most people need six to eight hours of sleep a night to maintain good health. Catch up with cat naps if necessary. - Take time out for yourself
Whether you’re caring for a parent, spouse, or other relative or friend, you need time for yourself. You need outside interests, other people, and a way to escape from the constant pressure of caregiving. It’s easy to let friendships lag when you have important things to do, but friends can get you through some tough times, just by being there. - Consider joining a support group
If you feel alone and isolated in your role as caregiver, talk to other caregivers. They’ll know what you’re up against; they’ll understand where you’re coming from. Think of it as therapeutic socializing—you’re not actually escaping from your role as caregiver.
A strong support network is always the greatest protection against stress. With trusted friends and family members, in conjunction with a professional caregiving team like Hired Hands Homecare, life’s pressures will not seem as overwhelming. With top quality home care services in Marin, Sonoma, Napa counties and the Tri-Valley, we begin with a free in-home consultation and home safety evaluation, create an individualized care plan, and then partner with you to provide the care your loved one needs, when it’s needed. Call us at 866-940-4343 to get started.
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