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Home » Blog » General Information » How Self-Care Can Help New Caregivers Manage Stress and Their Mental Health

November 11, 2019 By Rena McDaniel 21 Comments

How Self-Care Can Help New Caregivers Manage Stress and Their Mental Health

Have you recently become the caregiver for someone you love? Taking care of a loved one can give you a sense of fulfillment, but it can also give you some extra stress. Depression and anxiety are common issues for caregivers, so it is important for people who are new to the role to use self-care to stay well. Here are some simple self-care tips for any new caregiver.

 

Find Ways to Keep Moving

Regular exercise is essential to keeping yourself strong and healthy enough to continue providing care. Try to go to the gym a few times a week, or take a daily walk to get your muscles moving. If you’re a senior whose budget is getting in the way of your wellness, know that there are programs that can help. For example, SilverSneakers offers discounted access to hundreds of fitness facilities across the country, so it’s an economical way for seniors to stay fit. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may be eligible for SilverSneakers. With a membership, you can swim, take an aerobics class, or do strength training. 

 

Be Good to Yourself

Stress relief comes in many forms, but two of the easiest ways to find relief are by taking tasks off your plate or doing something nice for yourself. When it comes to cooking, cleaning the house, or walking the dog, look for ways to outsource those tasks and buy time for yourself. And there are myriad benefits to doing something nice for yourself. If you’ve been pining for a massage or a haircut, make an appointment and treat yourself.

 

Get Plenty of Sleep

Although you may not think of sleep as self-care, it’s actually incredibly good for both your mind and body. Not only does your body heal itself while you sleep, but a full seven to nine hours of slumber will help you regulate stress hormones and improve your immune system. The quality of your sleep has a lot to do with your environment, from the temperature of your bedroom to the mattress you’re sleeping on. Notice some problems? Then it’s time to make changes.

 

So, if you’ve been sleeping poorly on an older mattress, maybe now is the time to take the plunge and buy a new one. For example, many people have found success with a Purple mattress, which can accommodate just about any sleep style, though it does feel completely unique. However, it’s important to make note of your sleep style and any problems you might have; if you suffer from chronic pain, for instance, then you should focus on a mattress that caters to this particular issue. For instance, a Tuft & Needle mattress is supportive and bouncy and can help address back pain. The bottom line is pretty simple: Do whatever you can to provide yourself with a fantastic sleep environment so you’ll rest easier at night.

 

Get Outside Each Day 

So many times, caregivers spend their days inside with loved ones or taking care of household responsibilities. But staying inside can leave you feeling restless, stressed out and depressed. Making time to get outdoors can improve your mental health and even benefit some essential processes in your body. You can take advantage of this energy and emotional boost by taking a few minutes each day to enjoy the outdoors. Bring your coffee and breakfast outside, or go on a morning walk with your loved one. Getting outside and being close to nature also relieves stress, so get out there and get some fresh air for at least a few minutes every day. 

 

Gain Peace in Your Life  

Caring for an ill loved one can be extremely taxing on your emotions. It can be difficult for caretakers to stay optimistic when they see their loved one in pain, but learning to focus on the positive can bring the peace you need into your life. Being positive is important to fight off severe symptoms of depression and anxiety. Practice positivity by taking the focus off of what’s going wrong, and try to think of what’s going right. You can even condition yourself to appreciate the positives in life if you work at it over time. Above all, practice gratitude for all that you have in your life. 

 

Connect with Others

As a caregiver, you are committed to the care of your loved one, but don’t let that keep you from connecting with the other people you love. Loneliness and isolation can be real issues for caregivers, so take the time to reach out to your friends and family members. If you feel like getting out of the house for these important social connections, consider hiring someone to help care for your loved one. Hiring an in-home nurse or care provider will give you more freedom when it comes to your own life. That’s important to prevent feelings of isolation and despair when you are caring for someone you love. 

 

Being a new caregiver can be stressful. While it’s important to provide quality care for your loved one, it’s also important to take care of yourself. Self-care is essential for any new caregiver, and anyone dealing with extra stress in their life.

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Filed Under: Alzheimer's, AWARENESS, AWARENESS, CAREGIVING, Disabilities, General Information, GUEST BLOGGERS, MidLife, RA, RESOURCES, RESOURCES, SOCIAL AWARENESS ISSUES, TIPS, TIPS Tagged With: Caregiver awareness, caregiver health, Caregiver resources, Caregiver survival, Caregiver tips, Caregiver tools, Caregiver traits, caregivers, Caregiving awareness, Caregiving resources, caregiving tips, Lydia Chan

About Rena McDaniel

I'm a recovering Alzheimer's Caregiver, a former loving daughter, a current wife, mom, and grandma who remembers all too clearly what it is like on the front lines of Alz Caregiving. I provide real advice, pro tips, or excellent tools from my own experiences and other experts I find along the way. A community of caregivers supporting each other!

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Comments

  1. Amber Myers says

    November 13, 2019 at 12:45 pm

    I love this. Self care is so important. Especially to caregivers because that is not an easy position to be in.

    Reply
  2. Jeanette says

    November 13, 2019 at 1:59 pm

    It’s a very good reminder. Sometimes we do everything else and not think about ourselves. It is never good to run yourself so ragged because then you do no good for anybody.

    Reply
  3. Jenn@Engineermommy says

    November 13, 2019 at 2:24 pm

    Caregivers are absolutely people who need to prioritize their own self-care as much as anyone. These are all very important things to keep in mind.

    Reply
  4. GiGi Eats says

    November 13, 2019 at 3:40 pm

    Sleep and EXERCISE and absolutely PARAMOUNT in my opinion! I get super cranky if I don’t work out and sleep enough!!

    Reply
  5. Tasheena says

    November 13, 2019 at 5:46 pm

    I really enjoyed this post. You provided a lot of helpful tips. Being a caregiver can be really hard for some.

    Reply
  6. Chef Dennis says

    November 13, 2019 at 7:15 pm

    This is really great! Self care is really essential for all of us. Thank you for sharing such a great awareness for people to know and keep in their minds.

    Reply
  7. Shelley R Zurek says

    November 13, 2019 at 7:50 pm

    I love the discussion about silver sneakers. I have seen it posted at my PT place and never quite understood it. I can see how that would be helpful to caregivers.

    Reply
  8. Theresa says

    November 13, 2019 at 10:23 pm

    Sometimes we spend so much time caring for others, we forget how important self care is for ourselves. This is a great reminder that we need to be good to ourselves too!

    Reply
  9. Jamie H says

    November 13, 2019 at 11:17 pm

    Great tips! I know when my grandma became caregiver for my grandpa, it was very difficult for her to ask for help. But there are usually so many people willing to help, if they just know how to do so.

    Reply
  10. Ruth I says

    November 14, 2019 at 8:39 am

    I experienced it for a month and yes, it wasn’t easy. I needed some time to be alone and breathe. These are awesome tips!

    Reply
  11. Lynndee says

    November 14, 2019 at 9:04 am

    I really believe that self-care is very important. Your self first before others and it’s not being selfish. Great tips.

    Reply
  12. Kathy says

    November 14, 2019 at 9:17 am

    I think all of these are wonderful ideas. I especially love exercising. I think that is a must for everyone. Really keeps you more energized though the day.

    Reply
  13. Ana says

    November 14, 2019 at 1:51 pm

    Self-care is so important and these are some wonderful tips! Connecting with like-minded people can make a huge difference!

    Reply
  14. Terri Steffes says

    November 14, 2019 at 6:54 pm

    I bet if you got enough movement and sleep, that would breathe new life into you every day. I love ALL the other tips, too!

    Reply
  15. rika says

    November 14, 2019 at 10:26 pm

    Great tips! I think caregivers should take their mental and physical health. It’s not an easy job.

    Reply
  16. Catalina says

    November 15, 2019 at 3:10 am

    These are definitely the best advice you can give to a caregivers! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  17. Amber Killmon says

    November 15, 2019 at 1:55 pm

    Self-care is so important that so many ages. It’s definitely important for caregivers to be in the right State of Mind.

    Reply
  18. Rajan Sharma says

    November 24, 2019 at 7:04 am

    I think the connection with people that we develop through our lifetime is the keypoint of managing stress and pointing out that thing in htis blog is very kind of you
    Great Work!

    Reply
  19. John Gatesby says

    December 4, 2019 at 10:36 pm

    You are so correct about the self care for the care givers, infact lots of them ignore this fact that they need to care for themselves and need not suffer while caring for others. All great tips, out of these I found connecting with others as the most important because caregivers mostly stay indoors and live a lonely life, so connecting with others is very important. I would also add mindful meditation, as it would reduce a lot of stress that care givers experience on a daily basis.

    Reply
  20. Max Ucci says

    December 9, 2019 at 7:03 pm

    Really good advice. I’m helping to care for my father and I definitely need to take time for myself. It makes our relationship so much better. Lots of good info and good read. Thanks.

    Reply
  21. Rajesh verma says

    December 26, 2020 at 6:38 am

    Try making conservations with your loved ones can surely helped reduce stress and this helped me very much.

    Reply

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