Self Care Isn't Selfish

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Self Care Isn't Selfish

The demands of caregiving can be overwhelming, especially if you feel you have little control over the situation or you’re in over your head. If the stress of caregiving is left unchecked, it can take a toll on your health, relationships, and state of mind—eventually leading to burnout. When you’re burned out, it’s tough to do anything, let alone look after someone else. That’s why maintaining a balance of the mind, body, and soul isn’t just a luxury — it is a necessity to live a happy and fulfilled life.

We get it, self-care might seem foreign right now because you're a care"giver", how can you be a self care "receiver"?

At Leeza's Care Connection, we can help you brainstorm ways you can take care of you whether it's through

our free virtual and/or in-person wellness programs like Chair Yoga, Tai Chi, Weekly Art Classes,

Self-Care Exploration Classes, and community events or simply finding ways to take a quiet moment to yourself.

Call us at (803)-888-7525 or (818) 847-3686 or email info@leezascareconnection.org

Below you'll learn about some self care activities you can start to prioritize now, some you may not even realize is self care.

Caregiver Health

Despite its challenges, caregiving can also be rewarding, and there are a lot of things you can do to make the caregiving process easier for both you and your loved one. Being a caregiver requires stamina and good health. The journey is more of a marathon than a sprint and you need to be in the best condition possible. Taking care of you is essential to your own well-being and is crucial for your loved one’s health and comfort. If you are in good physical and mental health, you will be able to handle the challenges that present each day and provide the best care possible.

Prioritizing Your Health Appointments

Many caregivers stop going to their own health appointments because they are so focused on caring for their loved one. They put off dental cleanings, regular check ups, and stop getting those preventative checks. If you ignore your own health, you risk becoming ill. Maintaining your own health is an investment that will pay off for your whole family.

Exercise & Physical Activity

We can’t over-stress enough the importance of exercise to your health. While developing an exercise plan that fits your schedule, keep these points in mind:

Five minutes of activity several times a day adds up to a good plan for obtaining moderate exercise.
Moderate exercise improves blood flow, enhances energy and diminishes risk for disease and injury.
Try to walk a total of 20 minutes a day, three days a week to start, and build up to 30 minutes, five days a week.

Try low impact workouts like chair yoga, line dancing or tai chi!

Eating Well

Nutrition affects physical and emotional health. Proper diet helps protect caregivers from medical based stress, while poor nutrition can lead to lower immunity and disease. Small changes in diet can have benefits for health and wellbeing. Planning menus and making shopping lists ahead of time helps make grocery shopping and preparation quicker. Look for tasty, easy to prepare meals like those in our newsletter.

When you cook, make extra and freeze portions to use later. Try to stock up on healthy snacks and if you usually eat on the run like:

Fresh fruits
Vegetables
Proteins (like cheese wedges, roasted unsalted nuts or meat slices)

Spiritual Care

We know through research that when a loved one is diagnosed many caregivers (and their loved ones) have challenges with their faith or their belief in a Higher Power or God when diagnosed. Sometimes, a religious care intervention through a Priest, Chaplain, Minister, Rabbi or other, that reflects your faith can be helpful because it is to be expected that health challenges and caregiving responsibilities can bring up fears and insecurities. That’s when spiritual care can be meaningful.

Spiritual Care is supporting a person’s need to feel connected in order to find meaning and purpose. Our individual religious practice is not as relevant as our need to share our thoughts, feelings and experiences of being human. It’s something that is important for those diagnosed with chronic illness and those who care for them. All of us can all offer the gift of just being present. It is, in fact, the thing upon which all other support is built upon. It means giving focused attention through body language and eye contact. When we do this, even though we can’t take away pain or suffering, we can help ease the stress and loneliness. When we are in touch with our humanity, we can touch the humanity of others.