Balancing Your Caregiving: Prioritizing Self-Care While Supporting Your Loved One
Caregiving is an inherently demanding role because it involves caring for two individuals: not only the person you provide care for, but also yourself. This dual responsibility makes the role uniquely challenging, requiring you to balance the needs of your loved one with your own well-being. When you introduce family dynamics into this equation, the complexity of this role increases significantly.
The personal nature of family caregiving adds another layer of difficulty, making it even more challenging to establish and maintain healthy boundaries. Caring for family can blur boundaries easily in this role, leading you to possibly overextend yourself.
Research suggests that prioritizing self-care in a caregiving role can lead to feelings of guilt and frustration, but the two go hand in hand. This added pressure can make it seem nearly impossible to take the time for yourself that is essential for maintaining your health and effectiveness in the caregiving role. The good news? Help is out there.
Prioritizing your needs
You don’t have to feel helpless – there are strategies available to help you navigate these challenges and find a balance that works for both you and your loved ones. By addressing these issues and seeking the necessary resources, you can start to create a more manageable and fulfilling caregiving experience that honors both your needs and those of the person you care for.
Take a moment to ask yourself: when was the last time you consistently ate nutritious meals, got enough sleep or made self-care a priority? Focusing on your own well-being is crucial for everyone, but it becomes even more essential when you’re in a caregiving role. You simply cannot provide the best care for others if you don’t first take care of yourself.
Yet, prioritizing your own needs can be challenging. It is common among so many of us, regardless of our job or role, to struggle with feelings of guilt when we focus on our own self-care. If this sounds familiar, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Simply reminding yourself that prioritizing your needs will benefit both parties is a good place to start – you do not have to choose.
Do you need help?
Research indicates that caregivers are less likely to engage in standard health services, such as annual checkups and routine appointments due to having so much on their plate. As a result, caregivers are more likely to develop both mental and physical health problems that may eventually become debilitating. Some common symptoms may include the following:
- High blood pressure
- Sleep issues
- Chronic exhaustion and mood changes
- Misusing substances, including prescription medication.
- Neglecting your self – care, including tasks like showers and brushing your teeth
- Losing interest in things you once enjoyed
Seeking help
Research shows that caregivers often regret rejecting a helping hand. Being receptive to help is never easy, but you can start small – whether it be in the form of reaching out to a friend and just talking about your day is a great start. On the other hand, seeking more professional care, such as our WeCare program, may be your perfect fit – at WeCare, qualified professionals in the world of caregiving provide consultations in the comfort of your own home, provided efficiently through email and phone calls. Regardless of the help that suits you best, please allow yourself to receive the help you deserve.
Prioritizing breaks
Building a schedule with breaks will not only remind you to take them, but also solidify their importance as equal to the value of caregiving. Taking just a few short moments to ground yourself throughout your day can make a world of difference in your role. These special moments can be used productively, whether we remind ourselves of our boundaries or take the time to actively process our emotions, whatever they may be, instead of suppressing them.
Encouraging independence
As a caregiver, your first and essential priority is to assist your loved one with what they can no longer do on their own. However, establishing a baseline of independence will not only grant you some well–deserved relief, but also give your loved one a sense of freedom. Before you jump to help, practice giving your loved one space and ask yourself – “do they truly need me at this moment?”
Research shows that assistive technology can build independence, including:
- Medication organizers
- Canes or walkers
- Appointment schedulers
- Shower seating
- Reaching tools for household items
In the role of caregiving for a family member, where you juggle the needs of both your loved one and yourself, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and guilty. Yet, it’s essential to remember that taking care of yourself is not only crucial, but also an act of love. By prioritizing your own well-being, you give yourself the strength and clarity to offer the best care possible. Embrace space for self-care and reach out for help when you need it; it is essential to maintaining your own health and happiness.
Recognize that seeking balance and allowing yourself time to recharge are not signs of weakness, but of strength. In nurturing yourself, you’re honoring the very essence of caregiving—love, compassion and respect. You deserve this care as much as those you support, and in taking steps to find this balance, you create a more fulfilling caregiving experience for both you and your loved one.