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, […]
Five Lessons I Learned from Dad on Our Last Journey Together Read More »
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
Coordinating Care Underwater Read More »
“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 Among the biggest obstacles to feeling at peace while caring for a family member can come from our resistance to the role
Embrace Your Caregiving Journey Read More »
“One should . . . be able to see things as hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.” F. Scott Fitzgerald Having hope is vital to our emotional well-being, but when caregiving becomes the predominant focus of your thoughts, it can feel like your purpose, your reason for being, along with your future,
Chained to Caregiving: Hope and the Hostage Read More »
The swirl of negative thoughts and emotions is a significant cause of caregiver anxiety and overwhelm. The worries take over our headspace during the day and keep us awake at night. Our thinking and decisions are as blurred as our eyes from lack of sleep. When overwhelmed, our self-confidence suffers. We feel powerless. Reframing our
Calm the Caregiver Overwhelm Read More »
During the time that I cared for Dad, I experienced the raging river of emotions that comes with caring for a family member. Overwhelmed and drowning, I navigated toward a more sustainable caregiving experience. When I learned to set boundaries, use mindfulness to enhance awareness, and identify when winning was losing, I began to manage
6 Sustainable Caregiving Strategies Read More »
Would you like to up your self-care game? As a caregiver, you likely hear a lot about self-care. The idea of fitting self-care into your schedule might even add unwelcome stress. When you know the different types of self-care, you can identify the missing components and add activities that will enhance your well-being. Fun bonus:
6 Types of Caregiver Self-Care Read More »
“I don’t journal to ‘be productive.’ I don’t do it to find great ideas or to put down prose I can later publish. The pages aren’t intended for anyone but me. It’s the most cost-effective therapy I’ve ever found.” – Tim Ferriss Keeping a journal can help you process caregiving’s complexities – the emotions, the
Journaling: Release the Emotions Read More »
