Self-talk is something that you might not think about much, because it’s background noise for most people. What do you say to yourself when you make a mistake or when you drop something? You might not be able to come up with an answer when you’re not in that situation, but try to pay attention to what you say to yourself the next time something happens. If it’s less than positive, you’re not alone. Once you’ve noticed your self-talk, you can make a conscious effort to make it more positive.
When you’re a caregiver, feeling calm or at ease might not happen nearly as often as you would like. The problem is, it’s tough to focus on improving your mental health when you’re in a constant state of chaos. So, what helps you to feel at ease and happy? That might involve exercising every day or having someone else clean your house. Whatever it is, figure out how you can make that happen on a regular basis.
Mantras and affirmations feel really odd to use, but so many people recommend them because they really do work. Both are short phrases that you repeat or post somewhere that you’re going to see them often. These phrases help you to reframe your thinking to a more positive mindset. Try out a variety of different affirmations to find the ones that feel right to you. You’ll know when you land on the right ones.
Progress with mental health self-care is often slow. You are making far more progress than you realize, especially if you’re sticking with the tools you’re finding that help you. Journaling about how you’re feeling and what you’re experiencing can help you to look back even a week at a time and see how much better you’re doing. You may even find that you’re discovering new aspects that you want to address.
Self-care as a caregiver might feel self-indulgent or like something that you don’t have time for. But if you’re not taking the best care of your mental health that you can, you’re going to find it so much more difficult to continue caring for anyone else.
Co-Owner, First Choice Senior Care
Kayla Stephens is the co-owner of First Choice Senior Care. She grew up in Northeast Arkansas, and has worked in rehabilitation, hospice care, managed nursing homes and a large home care agency. She has received several awards for sales and quality achievements in hospice and long-term care.
Kayla believes in advocating for and educating seniors and their families on a variety of topics and issues that impact them. Reflecting on the need for an independent home care provider interested in quality over quantity, she chased her dream of building her own company that would make a significant difference in the lives of seniors, providing a much-needed service in her own local community.
Kayla holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Arkansas State University, is licensed by the state of Arkansas as a Long-Term Care Administrator, and is a Certified Senior Adviser.
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