Happy Tuesday! Hope you are having a great start to your week and enjoying all the beauty around you in this world. Often, I'm so busy with my tasks and to-do lists that I take the small things for granted. And I don't mean to, but I get caught up in what others need that I forget to breath and appreciate the moment.
I'm sure many of you can relate, our families are everything! We love them and want the very best for our loved ones, making sure they have the things that they need oftentimes at the expense of ourselves. Sometimes we want so much for them that we easily forget about taking care of a very important member of the family, ourselves.
Thats why Training Tip Tuesday this week is for the ones who tirelessly serve in order to make sure those around us have the best life possible. From driving to and from, to cooking, cleaning mess after mess, play dates, therapy appointments, you get it... the list just doesn’t end! Often the needs of others become so great that we don’t feel there is any time for the Giver. When we neglect our own needs day after day, we can easily start to feel down and depressed experiencing what is called, 'Caregiver Burnout.'
According to the American Medical Association, "Caregiver burnout can create symptoms of stress and depression in the caregiver and negatively affect both the caregiver and the care recipient. Some symptoms manifest externally and are easy to identify, but others are often internal and not as apparent. If left unaddressed, burnout can have harmful effects for both the caregiver and the patient under their care. (1)"
Although we may need to seek professional help if we feel we are experiencing extreme caregiver burnout, here are 5 tips to pamper the Giver to try to avoid the onset of burnout before it becomes overwhelming.
#1 Remember What You Love
This could mean rekindling a personal passion, talent or hobby. Who are you outside of being a caregiver? Take some time to remember who you are so you can do something you love. It's okay to be happy and meet a personal need!
#2 Be Realistic
Be realistic about schedules, time and money. There are hundreds of great programs out there that our loved ones could be involved in, and they all may have great benefits. However, we can’t attend every great thing in life. Look at your options, your budget, and your time. Then, after considering what is good, better, and best, make decisions that work for the entire family.
#3 Reflect
Take time to reflect each day on your life. Some like to meditate, some pray, others listen to peaceful music. It can be as simple as just sitting down to think. Focus on your breathing and be calm. Spend a few moments each day on you. This will calm and refresh your mind and help you feel a greater sense of peace and wellness.
#4 Get Outside Regularly
Now before you tell me it's the middle of August with the humidity of a sauna, there are great benefits! Research has shown that fresh air and a short walk does so much for our soul. The simple things in life matter most and being outside consistently is as simple as it gets!
#5 Shed That Guilt!
Don’t fall victim to the mentality that you can do it all, even Batman had Robin. Caregivers often carry guilt over not being good enough for those whom we care for. Please don’t! Instead, praise what you are already doing and focus on what you may be able to do better. Put a plan in place if improvements truly need to be made. You can use your energy for more important things then feeling bad all the time. Kids don’t always need to be entertained and we aren't expected to always have all the answers in life. We only have 24 hours in a day, spend your time wisely!
If you feel your burnout has reached a point that is greater than you can handle, seek professional help. Strength comes from asking and receiving help. For more information on caregiver burnout please visit 'The American Medical Association' (cited below).
And as always, we are here for you! Reach out to us with questions, comments, or concerns and we are more than happy to help. At Sunshine ABA, families are the most important, and you are part of ours.
Works Cited
(1) “Caring for the Caregiver - American Medical Association.” American Medical Association , www.ama-assn.org/sites/ama-assn.org/files/corp/media-browser/public/public-health/caregiver-burnout-guide.pdf. Accessed 15 Aug. 2023.
