If you take care of someone with a disability on a full-time basis, it is easy to forget that you also need to take care of yourself. Taking time out to recharge your batteries improves life for both you and the person you care for. It is sometimes hard to know what to do when you feel you are on a never-ending treadmill. You feel tired, often overwhelmed, and isolated. Your life is very different from that of your friends. Here are some steps you can take to help.
1. Get enough sleep
If you are tired, you simply can’t do a good job. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute “ongoing sleep deficiency can raise your risk for some chronic health problems. It also can affect how well you think, react, work, learn, and get along with others”. When you are dragging yourself through the day, feel edgy all the time and simply have no energy, it is time to rethink just how much sleep you getting and making sure you are getting enough.
2. Eat well
When you are time poor and tired, quick, but nutritionally unhealthy meals, may seem a good option. But eating nutritionally poor food only makes the problems worse. It saps your energy and increases your chances of developing a chronic illness, such as heart disease and diabetes. Eating fresh fruit and vegetables as part of your daily diet are essential if you want to stay well enough to look after someone else. For more information go to https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/. Start developing good eating habits and you will notice an improvement in your energy levels
3. Remember to exercise
Walking is a great exercise. Try and get at least 20-30 minutes a day. Not only does if help with fitness and improve your health, it also reduces stress. It is a much better alternative than taking medication! It is low risk, low impact and best of all it costs nothing. Check out the National Heart Foundationfor all the benefits and to see if there is a walking group close by that you can join.
4. Remain socially active
Getting out and being social can sometimes seem very difficult. It can remain low on your priority list. But again, the benefits are immense. While most studies look at social isolation in terms of ageing, it is clear that remaining socially active helps everyone by reducing feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression. As a carer, this is very important. At the very least consider joining Carers Queensland where you will have the opportunity to be part of a group who face the same challenges as you. It will also help you appreciate that you are not alone
It might seem a huge task to change the way you are doing things. Your focus will be on the person you are caring for. Taking time out to care for yourself may seem selfish or you may feel you ‘just don’t have the time’. But it is essential for both you and the person you care for that you remain healthy, happy and able to cope with what is a long-term commitment.
