Tips to Look After Yourself While Caregiving

Tips to Look After Yourself While Caregiving

In this article

Stay active. Even though you're busy, keep up an exercise routine. Taking time out most days of the week for some physical activity -- even just a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood -- will help improve your mood and increase your energy. 

Forgive yourself. It's natural to feel frustrated at times with your loved one. It can sometimes happen from the stress of caregiving. Don't beat yourself up for feeling that way.

Allow yourself some downtime. If you push yourself too hard, you'll burn out. So try to build small breaks into every day and do something special for yourself every week. See a movie with a friend, get a massage, or go for a swim.

Look into respite care. It's a way to give relief for caregivers who need a break. A substitute will fill in for you when you need it. Sometimes it's done by volunteers, sometimes by professionals for a cost. It might be for a few hours or for a few days. Check your local area agency on aging to find out about respite care near you.