“By far the best way to prevent a tug-of-war is to not pick up your end of the rope.” Don Lancaster So much of our caregiving experience feels out of control, which is stressful. Caregiving conflicts can be unsettling. We have been plopped back into the nest, and our inner child has emerged to go […]
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“Compassion is about giving all the love that you’ve got.” Cheryl Strayed, author of the memoir Wild Compassion is the feeling that allows us to show kindness during difficult times. Where compassion is an internal feeling, kindness is an external action that embodies warmth and affection. As Cheryl Strayed said, feeling and showing compassion is
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“Self-care is doing the things that make you feel more like yourself.” Robyn Conely Downs You can prioritize your well-being while you care for your family member when you reimagine and micro-dose self-care throughout the day. Your activities before caregiving, going to the gym, reading for pleasure, sleeping, or spending time with friends, were just
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“Stress is caused by being here but wanting to be there or being in the present but wanting to be in the future. It’s a split that tears you apart inside.” Eckhart Tolle Caregiving is a trigger minefield. The awareness we cultivate through mindfulness helps us avoid the triggers and disarm the mines. This is
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“Compassionate people ask for what they need. They say no when they need to, and when they say yes, they mean it. They’re compassionate because their boundaries keep them out of resentment.” Brené Brown The Boundaries Burnout Connection Setting, modifying, and reinforcing boundaries can prevent caregiver burnout. You may be wondering, what are boundaries, what
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When we experience a significant life change, our support network often changes. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that we will want to rethink and recreate our support system when we step or fall headfirst into a caregiving role. When we think of a support system, we often think of people. While people can be an essential
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It is helpful to understand the type of caregiver anxiety we are experiencing so that we use the proper techniques to counter the effects. For example, mental anxiety can be aggravated by trying to problem-solve with thoughts. Calming our thoughts is the key to relieving anxiety, which is very challenging when thoughts are swirling, and
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September is Self-Care Awareness Month and the perfect opportunity to highlight that self-care is not selfish but rather a critical component of health. While it is easy to place our well-being behind the many responsibilities that pop up in a day, practicing self-care is crucial to our emotional and physical well-being. Therefore, when we juggle
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Dad, a teacher by profession and a lifelong learner, was always there to offer advice and support throughout my upbringing. His values were firmly established in his early days on a farm and his character shaped during his time spent in the navy in World War II. While he was firmly set in his values,
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I wasn’t prepared to manage the responsibilities following Dad’s hospitalization. No one responsibility was too challenging, but when all the tasks and responsibilities were combined, the work was all-consuming. One minute I was floating along in the raft, and a minute later, I was out of the raft and in over my head. I felt submerged
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