Exactly what are your very first thoughts when you wake up in the morning? Are you looking forward to what the day holds, or would you like to crawl back underneath the covers and remain there? If you’re experiencing more dread than delight as you consider your caregiving tasks for the day, you are not the only one.
Distinctly different from depression, anxiety, or even burnout, caregiver dread is an exhausted, heavy sense of duty. It stems from feelings of overcommitment and the desire to break free from obligations. While feasible to muscle through and carry out needed tasks in spite of these feelings, there are ways to overcome them instead – and regain the joy that comes from making life better for someone you love. To begin with, try these caregiving tips:
1. Let go of the guilt. Meeting the caregiving needs of a loved one can feel mundane, unimpactful, and simply downright hard. It takes selflessness, which can feel burdening. Yet dreading the day-to-day tasks you are requested to do in no way reflects the way you feel towards your loved one. Acknowledge to yourself that your role isn’t easy, and that it’s okay to wish you could be doing something else.
2. Intentionally look for joy. The small pleasures each day holds may be diminished because of the difficulties. Make the effort each and every morning to identify five little things which make you smile. Keep a diary of each day’s finds and refer back to it at the conclusion of every week. Engage all your senses as you search for the day’s joys: the smell of freshly baked cookies; the beauty of the sunrise; the sound of your kitten purring; the invigorating feeling of a hot shower.
3. Set boundaries. Designate time each day to spend on pursuits that you enjoy apart from the older adult in your care. Plan and look forward to this time when your care duties begin to weigh you down. An established and trusted care partner is key to make sure nothing interferes with the important time of taking care of yourself.
Remind yourself that the work you’re doing in being a caregiver for your loved one is extremely important. Yet also remember that no one can do it all, and in order to provide the most effective care for your loved one as well as for yourself, frequent breaks from care tasks are needed.
Our care team is here for as much or as little assistance as you need to help you enjoy quality time along with an aging loved one and also to rediscover joy in your own life as well. Connect with our home care experts by calling (630) 323-4665 or filling out our online contact form and discover how we provide the kind of home care Willowbrook and other surrounding areas in Illinois recommend most.