As we make our way to 2020,  ElderCare at Home wants to encourage some healthy habits to bring with you to the new year. Caregiving is a stressful job that often demands patience and endurance. We trust that you are doing your hardest work. But, this blog entry is not here to tell you to work harder. We want to remind you about caring for yourself.

Self-care is important to do as a family caregiver because it ultimately preserves your emotional, mental, and physical health so you can continue being the best caregiver you can be. Many people ignore caring for themselves because they are under the impression that they are too busy or that they should not think of themselves at the moment. We want to remind you that self-care is crucial in order to continue caring for your loved one. If you burn out from exhaustion, then what will you do? If you want to avoid this situation, then consider some of the New Year's resolutions below.

(1) Make Time for Yourself: But a calendar or agenda, and schedule personal time. This time can include anything you want, as long as it is devoted to improving yourself. These times can be devoted to extra sleep, meditation, pursuing a hobby, exercise, or socializing. Whatever the activity may be, you owe yourself some time.

A great way to begin managing time for self-care is to start slow. For example, one week you can choose "personal time" for one hour for three days. You may find that you want to add more personal time the following week. The goal is to find a balance between everyday responsibilities, caregiving, and time for yourself. Some people like going for walks or jogs after they get off of work, others like to take time on the weekends to go to the beach. Whatever helps you, make sure to write it in a calendar. Writing it down on a physical calendar (or in your phone) helps encourage you to meet those goals.

(2) Practice Good Communication: Caregivers encounter situations all of the time when they have to communicate efficiently and effectively. Whether you are talking one-on-one with your loved one or are making a phone call to a nurse registry, you have to make sure you communicate well. The  first step in communication is to be clear and specific, while being polite. Make sure you state what you want to say clearly and honestly. This helps avoid confusion and ambiguity.

Second, is to listen actively. Communication is not a one-way street. Others are trying to express themselves to you, also. A good communicator takes the energy to listen without judgement. That is to say, try not to go into conversations with assumptions or preconceived notions about how the other feels. Let them tell you, and base your responses on what they share with you directly.

Lastly, acknowledge what others who are speaking with you are feeling. Ideally, they are doing all of the same for you. This allows open, honest conversations to flow nicely. Even if you may not understand why someone feels a certain way, the best route to take is to be polite and to take their feelings seriously and without judgment.

(3) Exercise: Exercise is an important thing for overall bodily health, i.e. emotional, mental, and physical. Just like scheduling "personal time" you should schedule time for exercise. And, yes!, exercise can be personal time. We encourage that you stick to an exercise regimen for at least three times a week at an hour for each session. You can pursue cardiovascular exercises like walking, running, or swimming. Or you can do more strength- and flexibility-oriented routines like weightlifting and yoga. Whatever it is, make sure you prioritize. Because exercise contributes to overall health, you will notice the "domino effect" exercise has on other parts of your life, like improved mood and sleeping better. Before starting any exercise routine, make sure you see your doctor and talk to them about any conditions or questions you have.

These are just some ideas to take with you into the new year. We want to remind you that self-care is not selfish. Caring for yourself allows you to be a better caregiver. So, caring for yourself is like caring for your loved one. You can consider self-care as one of the overall caregiving responsibilities. If you have any other questions, please call  ElderCare at Home at  888-285-0093 or visit our  website.