Caregiver Check-in: Your Well-Being Matters Too!

As we enter the thankful season, let us not forget that November is Caregiver Awareness Month! Caregivers are an integral part of our community. It can be rewarding but is equally taxing and often times thankless. We want to take this time to check in on you.

We have put together a few self-reflection polls for you. We hope you take a second out of your day to reflect on how YOU are doing. There are no right or wrong answers, just reflection and maybe making room for a little extra self-TLC.

How are you doing?

Take a second to place your hand over your heart, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.

Ask yourself. How are you feeling? As a whole, how are you doing?

What part of you needs extra attention?

Now that you have thought about how you are doing, take a second to think about what you need more or less of in life right now. There is no need to run and jot down your to-do list. Instead, take a mental note of some basic needs you have.

You deserve to be supported too

As a caregiver, it is easy to put others before yourself. However, your well-being should also be at the top of your list. You deserve a support system that is there for you, no matter what. You might lean on a spouse, friends, family, church group, or therapist. Support looks different for everyone.

To self-care or not to self-care

It is not always easy to know when you need a break from the hustle and bustle of life. Taking time out from your hectic life to practice self-care can help. When done regularly, it can help you cope with daily stressors, boost your mood, and help increase your overall mental, physical and emotional well-being.

Self-care tool kit

Different stressors require different self-care techniques. This is why a self-care tool kit is key. Your tool kit includes self-care activities that might help whenever you feel overwhelmed and need a break.

Everyone copes with stressors differently. So, when crafting your toolkit think of things that have helped you in the past. What might work one day may not work the next. Try to find different options to allow you more choice.

Recognize that caregiver burnout is real

Some people have caregiver burnout without realizing it. Many times these caregivers do not recognize they are burnt out until they are totally depleted and depressed. While burnout looks different for everyone, it is important to know the signs of caregiver stress or depression. It is then equally important to seek help when you can.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and for checking in on yourself. But most importantly, thank you for all the work you do. Being a caregiver is not easy, especially in our community.

Tell us in the comments below or in our forums: What do you wish the world knew about caregivers?