If today’s to-dos seem like much more than you are able to possibly fit into 24 short hours, you’re not alone! Family caregivers are frequently overloaded with daily care tasks: Shopping and other errands. Planning and preparing meals. Housework and laundry. Medical appointments. Planning activities that are purposeful and enjoyable for the senior. Personal care and hygiene. And all of this is on top of meeting the needs of your own household, children, spouse, and if there’s any time left over, yourself!
We invite you to hit the pause button for just a minute, take a deep breath, and put into action these tried-and-true time management tips to help each day run more smoothly.
Prioritize
Start the day by prioritizing tasks into categories, such as what must be done today, what you would like to do today, and what can hold off until a later date. This permits you to dedicate your full focus on the most urgent needs and set aside the rest.
Define
With your list of tasks for the day in hand, decide who is most suitable to take care of them. You might be the best person to help the older adult with showering and getting ready for the day, while a friend may be able to take the senior to the physician and out for lunch afterwards.
Implement
The urge to put things off may be a powerful one to overcome! Now that you have a plan in place for your day, jump in and accomplish the tasks that need your attention. Nevertheless, bear in mind that self-care should always be a high priority. Surround yourself with a powerful support system that enables you the time away needed to ensure your own health is never being compromised.
Through it all, remind yourself that the work you’re doing is exceptionally important. It’s easy to get swept up around the daily details and lose sight of the big picture and the fact that all you do for the older adult you love is contributing to a positive and lasting impact.
Even with the implementation of time management tips, allow yourself some grace on the days when things don’t go as planned, as will definitely be the case every once in a while! When a crisis or setback arises and your to-dos are left undone, realize that tomorrow is a brand new day, and the tasks are going to be there whenever you’re ready to tackle them again.
Our caregivers at Independence-4-Seniors Home Care are fully trained, experienced, and ready to assist you in meeting all of a senior family member’s needs – permitting you the time away you’ll need for a balanced and healthy life. Email or call us at (630) 323-4665 for a complimentary in-home consultation to find out more about our senior care in La Grange, IL and the surrounding areas.