Are you caring for yourself while you care for others?

Self-care for caregivers is essential. As a caregiver, you are loving, kind, understanding, uplifting, and encouraging to the people you care for.

Do you treat yourself the same way? 

Caregivers often keep giving more when it comes to the people they love. Think about the mother who works 9-5, then races home to make dinner and help her kids with homework. Or think about the man caring for his aging father, who schedules doctor’s appointments during his lunch break, and spends Saturdays helping his dad clean his house. It’s hard work, but it’s work borne out of love. 

The loving, compassionate people who care for others exude superhuman patience and a willingness to go the extra mile, but oftentimes, at the end of the day, they are unwilling to extend themselves the same grace that they so readily extend to others.

They spend all day patiently supporting others, yet chastise themselves for feeling tired or irritable. Or they dedicate hours to ensuring that their loved ones eat healthy meals and get exercise, then fail to take care of themselves. Or they balance hours at work, and even more hours of caregiving, and never schedule even a moment for self-care.

Extending self-compassion is the act of caring for yourself as you would—and do—treat others. It’s important so that you can be the best caregiver you can be. People who show self-awareness in displaying compassion for themselves generally have better mental, emotional, and physical health. They are also much more ready to support others and much more able to show empathy and compassion for those around them. 

We know that showing self-compassion can be difficult–especially for someone who is so used to giving to others—so we wanted to share a few helpful tips on self-care for caregivers.

12 Self-care tips for caregivers

1. Recognize the inner voice in your head

Many of us have an inner critic who holds us to impossible standards. A key element of self-care for caregivers involves being aware of how you talk to yourself and begin to tailor your internal language to be more kind and compassionate. When you hear that inner voice telling you that you should have done more or done something differently, recognize it, push it aside, and give yourself grace and compassion. 

2. Practice mindfulness

Find time to be in the moment, ignoring your worries or future fears. Try to refocus and calm your mind and body without overidentifying your experiences. Even five minutes of mindfulness for caregivers can help you reset your mind and bring inner peace. 

3. Push aside excuses

Self-care is not an excuse for bad behavior, feeling sorry for ourselves, or being self-indulgent. If anything, it’s a reliable source of inner strength for yourself to show courage and resilience in demanding life circumstances. When you start to feel yourself being impatient or cranky, remind yourself that you are strong and capable and able to manage even the most difficult situation. 

4. Identify the issues you’re facing

Recognize what is happening in your life: You are busy, you spend a lot of time caring for others, you are exhausted, and you are overwhelmed. Allow yourself to feel the complicated feelings and proceed with kindness. This is especially true if you are dealing with a difficult diagnosis or struggling to juggle work and caregiving. Life’s circumstances can be hard, but you are capable of managing. 

5. Be aware of your insecurities

Many of us allow our insecurities to overwhelm our thinking. Be aware of what you feel insecure about as you practice warmth and openness towards yourself and others. If you start to question your ability or wonder if you are enough, notice the thought, then push it aside and extend yourself compassion. 

6. Journal your imperfections

 Self-care for caregivers may sound counterintuitive, but spend some time writing  down all the areas where you feel inadequate. Then, examine them, and write yourself a letter that showcases forgiveness, grace, understanding, and support.

7. Setting aside time for you

Find quiet places or time slots to set aside time and practice self-care daily. Take time– even a half hour– to invest in yourself.  Having a cup of coffee by the fire, take a daily walk, do something you love, or participate in a hobby. Make a habit of practicing processing your feelings, extending compassion, and giving yourself daily love and encouragement.

8. Practice forgiveness of yourself and others

Be ready to forgive others when they have wronged you– holding onto a grudge is never healthy. Then, be just as willing to forgive yourself. Show grace and forgiveness in yourself if you tend not to be as forgiving of your flaws. Consult the emotions of guilt and shame while identifying where you made a mistake. Show kindness, acknowledge your imperfection, and seek forgiveness.

9. Provide physical comfort to yourself

We’ll put it bluntly: You must also take care of yourself. When you’re tired, lie down and rest. When you need an escape, go for a nourishing walk in your neighborhood. When you’re tense, massage parts of your body that may feel tense. When you’re hungry, eat a healthy meal. Do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself physically so that you can be at your best to care for others. 

10. Look to find  joy in your life

Think of what makes you happy while expediting self-care as a caregiver. Ponder ways to connect with your friends, explore a new area, or watch some of your favorite movies or TV shows. Give yourself time to make your favorite food, read your favorite book, or spend time with a loved one. Just like you likely look for ways to make the people you care for happy, look for ways to bring joy into your life. 

11. Show kindness to yourself

Be kind to yourself. Recognize that all people, including yourself, deserve love. Be fierce in your self-care, giving yourself the same kindness and warmth you’d give to a loved one.

12. Find resources to help

There are hundreds of resources online, ranging from support groups to webinars to educational tutorials about further incorporating self-care for caregivers. You may also consider engaging in therapy for additional support.

Your Grayce Care Partner can offer helpful tips and tricks for extending self-care to yourself, and can help you navigate the difficult journey of caring for others.