As a caregiver, it's imperative that you take care of yourself. Think of the message shared during airplane safety instructions: put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. While this can be a difficult principle to follow, neglecting your own well-being puts both you and your loved one at risk
Friends: Make time for friends even if it is a simple text message.
Get outside: Fresh air and leaving the house are both very important.
Maintain a hobby: If you loved doing something before being a caregiver, continue to pursue that passion.
Speak to a professional: Being a caregiver is hard. Having someone listen to you can be the greatest gift.
Caregiver self-care remains a significant personal challenge for me. Although I understand the value of maintaining one's own health, I often fall short in practice. For this reason, I hesitate to give advice on the topic, as doing so would require advocating for practices I struggle to implement in my own life. This is an area we can all work on together.