When was the last time you thought about self-care? Your teen has a game and wants you there. Your younger child needs your help with a research project. Your boss needs you to work overtime again. Your spouse has a business function and doesn’t want to go alone. During all of this, you’re also helping your mom and dad with their daily activities of living.

It’s easy to get caught up in helping others and lose track of yourself. Pushing off self-care isn’t ideal. The best case scenario is that you become exhausted and have to walk away for a bit. Family caregivers often push off things like dental appointments or medical exams. While it’s easy to put yourself last, your health and wellness won’t wait for you to catch up.

Things Family Caregivers Need for Self-Care

Self-care is more than seeing your doctor, eating the right foods, and exercising. It’s also about your mental health. It would be best if you took time off to do things you enjoy. You love to fish, so be sure to make that part of your self-care agenda.

You haven’t gone out with your friends or spouse in months. Take time to go out, socialize, and release your stress. Maybe, you haven’t found time to go hiking even though it makes you happy. It’s time to go hiking.

Sleep is another vital part of self-care that family caregivers overlook. Experts feel adults need seven or eight hours of sleep each night. Eight is ideal. When was the last time you were able to get in all eight hours?

Take a night off. Have dinner early, take a relaxing bath, and head to your bedroom. If you have kids at home, your partner can take care of them for the rest of the night. Read a book while your body winds down from a busy day. When you feel tired, turn off your reading light and go to sleep.

Discover the Benefits of Respite Care

Stop right now and think about the things you haven’t done for yourself. Come up with a list of the most important to the least important. Catching up on medical exams, dental visits, and eye exams needs to be near the top. Socialization and time to yourself need to follow. Now, make sure you start crossing off that list.

Professional caregivers from a home care agency help you out by assisting your parents. Take some days off, see your doctor, go out with friends, and stay in bed all morning. You’ll return to your parents refreshed, feeling better about yourself, and ready to provide the best care possible. Schedule caregivers today.

If you are considering caregivers in Paw Paw, MI, for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at Fresh Perspective Home Care at (269) 329-4717. We are here to help!

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Shelly Nutter

Area Vice President at Fresh Perspective Home Care

Shelly Nutter has been a driving force in the Fresh Perspective Home Care team since 2008 and is currently the Area Vice President. She began caring for others at a young age and has never looked back. Her strong faith and family values drives her passion for helping others. Shelly says she never found a career that fulfilled a "bigger purpose" her previous jobs until begin her home care career with Fresh Perspective Home Care. "Here I found growth, purpose, and a career to match my personal ambition of making a difference in the lives of others." Shelly is native to the Kalamazoo/Portage, Mi area and has been married for over 25 years Together they have three children that she believes have benefited from watching Mom work hard to help others, advocate for others, and give to others. She also holds a bachelors degree in Accounting and an associates degree in Business Management.

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