The stress of being a family caregiver to a senior citizen can take a toll on your life. Stress is bad for your health. It can contribute to serious health problems, such as insomnia, pain, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Learning how to deal with stress appropriately can help family caregivers to prevent health problems and live a better quality of life.
Home Care in Davis CA: Caregiver Stress Management
Below are some stress management tips to help you reduce your caregiver stress.
Keep Your Self-Talk Positive
Everyone talks to themselves. You might talk out loud or simply in your head. The things you say to yourself can affect your stress level. When your self-talk is negative and you say things like, “I can’t do this” or “I’m doing it all wrong,” your stress may increase. However, telling yourself that it’s okay to just do the best you can and reminding yourself of what you are doing right can relieve stress.
Work Up a Sweat
Exercise is an excellent way to cut through stress. A regular work out will relax your body and your mind. Try getting in at least 30 minutes three to five times per week. When you’re feeling stressed, taking a short walk in the fresh air can make a difference.
Have Some Fun
Some days, being a family caregiver is particularly hard. On those days, make some time to do something that makes you happy. It doesn’t have to be big or take a lot of time. Even taking a few minutes to sit in a quiet area with a hot beverage and a good book can reduce stress. You might also want to consider scheduling your “me time” so that you can always fit it into your schedule.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a balanced diet will improve your overall health, which can make you feel less stressed. Include lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins in your diet.
Join a Support Group
A caregiver support group is a great way to reduce stress specific to your caregiving duties. Just knowing that you are not alone can help. A support group is a safe place where you can talk about your feelings, hear advice from other caregivers, and share tips for making caregiving duties easier.
Hire a Home Care Provider
One of the things that cause stress for family caregivers is feeling like they have no time and cannot do everything themselves. Hiring a home care provider to assist with some of the duties can relieve stress. A home care provider is someone who can come to your family member’s home and help them with nearly anything you can do. They can even do housework, cooking, and laundry.
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care services in Davis, CA, or the surrounding areas please contact the caring staff at ApexCare®. Proudly Serving Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, Solano, San Joaquin & Stanislaus counties.
Call Today 877-916-9111
Sources
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/StressManagement/FourWaystoDealWithStress/Four-Ways-to-Deal-with-Stress_UCM_307996_Article.jsp#.Wfx4B2hSzIU
https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/tips-to-control-stress#1
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/manage-stress.aspx