Mindfulness sounds a lot more complicated than it is. It’s really about being present in the moment and paying close attention to what is going on around you. At first, mindfulness can be difficult because you’re not used to focusing on the details of every moment.
Paying close attention to your breathing can help you with mindfulness. Breathing is something that you do without thinking, but when you really focus on it, you can see how your breathing affects your entire body. When your breaths are shallow and fast, you’re likely to feel more anxious and ready to spring to action. Deeper, slower breaths can help you to relax.
Self-care is about having a series of positive habits that reinforce your desire to be well. Look at what habits help to boost your mood. You might find that journaling is an extremely helpful habit for you or that exercise boosts your mood significantly. Increasing your use of these techniques helps you to put positive habits into play every single day.
Another way you can boost your mood and give yourself a way to reduce stress is to start spending time outside when you can. You don’t have to spend hours hiking in the woods, either. Taking a walk in the park or even spending five minutes in a garden can all help.
Above all, you need to make sure that you take time away from being a caregiver periodically. Even a few hours a week can help you to shift the focus to yourself for a little while. That little bit of time that you spend on you can help you to recharge and come back to your caregiving duties with a fresh approach.
Your self-care plan is not going to look like anyone else’s self-care plan. It’s going to be a plan that works for you and with your own needs. Try different things to see what works for you and if it doesn’t work for you, try something else. There aren’t right or wrong answers beyond what helps you to be the best caregiver possible.
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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