I haven't written on here lately. The past few months have been so busy life has gone by in a blur. A lot has happened over these months. I am on a leave of absence from my job as I help someone very close to me recover from cancer and a broken hip.
During this time I have been reminded that all of my strength comes from God. Very often in life our roles change due to whatever life throws in our direction. When a person's role turns into one of a caregiver, it can be extremely rewarding as well as extremely challenging. One of the biggest challenges one must face is finding a balance between caring for the other person and caring for yourself. It can be easy to just forget about yourself when you are a caregiver. Suddenly your life goes on the backburner as you help the person get back to a life of normalcy. As you are thrust into a life of doctor appointments, dispensing medications, physical therapy, and helping the person learn to be independent again, your own life gets put on hold. The person you are caring for may not be able to be alone for any length of time, so you may have to miss church, family outings, holiday celebrations, etc. Your regular routines will suddenly be nonexistent because illness throws a myriad of issues your way. Your sleep schedule may change, and you may find it difficult to sleep at all.
Still, it is imperative that you care for yourself. After all, if you don't care for yourself, how can you care for someone else? Here are some ways that you, as a caregiver, can still care for yourself.
-Do not be afraid to ask for help. After all, you are not invincible. Very often family and friends are more than happy to come and help out so you can run an errand, go for a walk, or just take a nap.
-Resist the temptation to do more than is required of you. Very often, as a caregiver, it can become easy to do everything. Make sure that you remember the end goal. If the end goal is that the person becomes more independent, let the person do as much as possible on his or her own. It helps the person gain confidence in his abilities, and it helps to prevent you from becoming burned out.
-Sleep when you can. More than likely, your sleep schedule is going to be interrupted. That solid seven or eight hours of sleep each night that you love may become more than a distant memory. Take a nap when you can. If the person you are caring for is sleeping, that is the perfect time for you to sleep too.
-Exercise. Even if you hate exercise, it is important to include some in your day. Not only does it relieve stress, it helps contribute to a positive mindset. If you cannot get out and go for a walk, find some simple exercises you can do at home.
-Keep a progress list. It can be easy to get so bogged down in the day to day issues that crop up, you may not see the progress that has been made along the way. This can be very discouraging. Make a progress list, and add to it regularly. This will keep you focused on the progress that is being made and help you realize that your efforts are not going to waste.
-Take time for things you enjoy. Many things can be done in the house while you are with the person you are caring for. Read a book. Watch a funny movie. Try a new recipe. Listen to music. All of these are things that you can do and include the other person in. Have fun!
There are definite rewards to being a caregiver as well. Some of these are:
-Stretching yourself into unknown areas. You may find yourself doing things that you never thought you would be able to do in the role of a caregiver. You will soon discover that when you are helping someone you care for, it is much easier than you thought it would be.
-Confidence in your abilities. As you find yourself being challenged in new ways, you will also find that you become more confident in your abilities.
-Dependence on God. For me, as a caregiver, I developed a closer relationship with God. As I was thrust into the role of caregiver, I found myself turning again and again to God for direction, for strength, and for hope. My dependence on my Heavenly Father is what has given me the strength to care for someone else.
Almost everyone will find themselves in the role of caregiver at some point in their life. Keep your mind on the positive aspects of the role. You are being instrumental in helping a fellow human being live a quality life again. And that is definitely something to smile about.
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