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| Caregiver Stress Reduction: 5 Simple Ideas That Work |
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As a caregiver to an aging parent, finding time for positive interactions with other adults can be quite a challenge. You owe it to yourself to find time for yourself. Otherwise, the demands of care giving can sap the mental energy required to handle the roller coaster of emotions you'll face as a caregiver. You'll find yourself fighting with guilt, anger and frustration. It's part of the territory and perfectly normal. It's okay if every one of your decisions is not perfect. You'll make mistakes. It happens. Give yourself permission to be less than perfect. Work in activities you enjoy even when you really don't care to. Diversions give your mind time to relax, regroup and refresh itself. Now grab a piece of paper and use the following 5 ideas to jump start some of your own. Write down ideas as they come to you. 1. Listen to soothing music 2. Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings. Writing provides both an important emotional release and helps give your life perspective. 3. Work in a garden (even if your garden is a series of potted plants) 4. Eat hearty,balanced meals. Your body is under a lot of stress. It needs good food to provide stamina. 5. Fit in time to exercise. A 20 minute walk around the neighborhood or the mall increases your cardiac activity, boosts endorphins and works off tension, all at the same time. 6. Buy light reading, particularly humorous books or rent movies of your favorite comedians. Laughter is proven to reduce stress. It may help you find the humor in every day happenings. Okay, now it's time to jot down your ideas. Write down at least 2 that work for you. Then act on them. Consider each one an act of personal kindness...a present you are giving yourself every day. You deserve it! |