How To Provide Self-Care To Yourself While Caring For A Sick Loved One
Written by Tomanika Taylor
Have you ever had to care for a loved one that was sick or have you ever had to assist someone that cared for a loved one that has been sick? This may be an overwhelming time for you to even think about, but it’s quite important for you to do. It’s time for you to finally take time out for yourself with self care activities. Here are a few things to keep in mind while caring for a loved one:
Practice self-care with coloring books which can be found here: Coloring Books
Catch up on your favorite movies at the movie theater, at home or catch up on your favorite TV shows either by yourself or with others.
Practice mindfulness techniques through the use of meditation where you can listen to soft calming music to release the stress that you are dealing with. This helps with placing yourself in the here and now to deal with your current situation while taking a moment to take care of yourself. There are apps out there that may be helpful in which you can download on your cell phones such as CALM, HEADSPACE, THE MINDFULNESS APP, BREATH APP, SIMPLE HABIT just to name a few.
Reach out to someone for support. This will be a great thing to do as you can take a step away, clear your mind while have someone there to support you through this process. You can reach out to a friend, family member or even a therapist to discuss your stress level.
IMPORTANT! Make sure to take care of yourself by taking care of your body. This is the time to eat healthy with eating fruits, vegetables and a well balanced diet. Remember if you don’t take care of yourself first, you won’t be able to take care of a loved one. Self-care is important, it’s not selfish and also most importantly this is the smart thing to do for yourself.
Here are some book ideas as well for self-care:
BOOKS
Also if you are familiar with Inland Empire Health Plan, they have great options for you to take advantage of for the community if you are located in the Inland Empire Area. You don’t have to be part of their plan to take advantage of these free resources.
Remember that in all that you do, in order for you to be there to take care of someone, you have to also take care of yourself. #takecareofyourself