Ignoring self-care is easy, especially when so many people talk about it as if it’s something to be embarrassed about. But if your version of self-care is only mani-pedis once a week, you might need to brush up on exactly what self-care entails and how it can benefit you as a caregiver.

It’s Not Just Frivolous

The first thing to get past when you want to get serious about self-care is that you’re not talking about frivolous stuff, here. This isn’t just taking a soak in the tub after a long day. You might include baths as part of your individual self-care plan, but this is about more than that. This is about getting into what you need and want in order to keep on pushing every day as a person, as a caregiver, and in all the other roles you fulfill in your life.

Ask Yourself What You Need

If you’re not sure what you should include in your self-care plan, it’s time to get in touch with yourself. What do you need most right now? That answer might vary depending on what’s going on with you. You might need more water, especially if you’re noticing that you’re hardly drinking any fluids. Or you might need more sleep or food that you didn’t throw in the microwave before eating. Really examine what you need and ask yourself often what would help you. This is the bare bones of your self-care plan.

Remember How You Feel When You’re Not Caring for Yourself

How does it feel when you’re not taking great care of yourself? Do you feel tired? Anxious? What kind of caregiver are you when you’re not focused on yourself? Better yet, what kind of caregiver are you when you are taking care of yourself? Odds are that you’re far more adept as a caregiver when you’re taking the best possible care of yourself. Keep asking yourself what you need.

Prioritize Self-care Regularly

It’s really easy to shove self-care aside, especially when other peoples’ needs seem bigger than yours. You’re a caregiver, but you also have to take care of yourself. If you don’t, you’re not going to be able to respond to the needs of other people. It’s really important that you ensure you’re making self-care one of your biggest priorities on a regular basis.

Your self-care plan isn’t going to look like anyone else’s self-care plan. That doesn’t mean you’re wrong. It means you’re personalizing your plan based on what you need most.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in Lafayette, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care.
Call today: (415) 795-2203

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Evan Loevner

CEO at Aviva In-Home Care

As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate Bay Area resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver.

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