I learned a few things over the years. Here are some of the top secrets of what you’ve got stop doing in order to master this caregiving thing: (If you missed the first 9 tips check out part 1, part 2, & part 3.)
Stop:
10. Telling yourself you’ll take care of it tomorrow. (Estate planning, financial planning, etc.) DO IT NOW!
- We’re not promised tomorrow. You don’t want to be stuck at the last minute with a family member who’s incapacitated without authority to make decisions on their behalf. At the very least obtain a power of attorney and fill out a healthcare proxy. If you want to take a more individual review, you can book a session and we can examine your situation.
11. Being an emotional decision maker.
- Being a caregiver has its challenges and I understand how tough it is to see your loved one be in a feeble position and there’s not much you can do to make them feel better.
- Try not to let your emotions cloud your judgement when it comes to money, and managing your household.
- Think about what’s in the best interest for the person at hand. i.e. If the person is diabetic, then buying sugar filled sodas and candy may not be the best thing to support their diet. They may lay the guilt trip “I’m sick anyway…” but that can severely impact their quality of life if you constantly give in.
12. Not putting yourself first. Please know that self-care is not selfish (You’ll hear me saying this a lot because I learned that this is so true.)
- Surrendering who you are, what’s important to you and why and not exploring any of these areas is not good!
- You were a whole person with desires and dreams before you became a caregiver and will still be one when you transition out of that role. (Yes it will happen- it’s just part of the caregiver life cycle.)
- You deserve to have space to pursue and have a joyful and joy filled life. It takes intention and trust me you’ll be happier and able to better care for others if you can allow yourself the time.
Over this 4-part series we explored everything from productivity, managing finances, self-care, emotions, legal stuff, rest, decisions, time and health as it relates to you and caregiving. It’s a juggling balance and sometimes things shift in favor of one area more than others. Having a good grasp on your needs will help you to make the best decisions and have a happier life. I hope you’ve picked up a few things and it provoked some thought. Remember caring for yourself is not selfish (remember I said you’ll hear this a lot from me. I’m also reminding myself too 😉 ) Be sure to catch part 1, part 2, & part 3 as there are some golden nuggets that you don’t want to miss.
Feel free to share some of the things that you’ve learned on your journey.
Until next time.
Be Well,
Denise
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