We are constantly being bombarded with people sharing their self-care routines. All over social media, you will see people post their self-care Sunday routine from putting on a great face mask, creating their own at-home spa, taking a walk in their neighbourhood or just having a great evening with their family and friends. Self-care is essential and with that, we want to encourage caregivers to create their own self-care routine.
It is very important for caregivers to maintain their own mental, physical and emotional health when caring for someone else. Too much stress, especially over a long time, can harm your overall health. The responsibilities that come with being a caregiver can make it very difficult to find any time to prioritize your own overall health, consequently, we here at Memoryz have created a list of 5 self-care activities that you can incorporate into your life as you continue to create your own self-care routine.
- Create a Gratitude List: Keeping a gratitude journal allows you to document all the things that you are thankful for on a daily basis. This practice allows you to maintain a positive outlook in life. Incorporating a practice like this has a tremendous effect on your overall well-being. It can improve your overall self-esteem because it will reduce social comparison and you will be more focused on your own achievements and develop the ability to have more self-belief. When you take the time to focus more on all the things that you are more grateful for in your life you naturally reduce stress in your life. Scientists have cited that grateful people focus more on the feeling of contentment and satisfaction because they have the ability to feel more grounded and are able to handle whatever life throws at them.
- Sleep- Oftentimes sleep is taken for granted. It’s important for us to incorporate taking a nap when possible and going to bed early to give our bodies some extra rest. Sleep affects our overall health and well-being and it is vital for us to not neglect good sleeping habits. Getting the recommended eight hours of sleep reduces the risk of excess weight gain, heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
- Meditate Daily- Find some time at the beginning or end of your day to include meditation. Daily meditation will provide you with a sense of calm, peace and balance and enhance your mental and physical health. Practising meditation frequently can improve heart health, boost immune response, lower stress, and decrease blood pressure. Some applications that our team use are Calm and Headspace.
- Find a Counsellor- Seeing a counsellor regularly has a tremendous impact on your mental well-being. The counsellor that you choose to see frequently could be a psychologist, therapist or spiritual mentor. The responsibilities of being a caregiver can be overwhelming and having a safe space to discuss your emotions will help you cope with your feelings, and allow you to problem solve and make any necessary behavioural changes.
- Exercise regularly- Daily exercise can have a positive impact not only on your physical health but your mental health as well. Frequent exercise has a number of benefits to a person’s mental health such as improving self-esteem, sharpening memory and thinking, gaining more energy, and better sleep. There is no particular type of exercise that you must do. You can choose to do yoga, boxing, hiking, it is at your discretion of the activity you choose, just make sure that you do it regularly and you enjoy it!
Being a caregiver can be exhausting and fulfilling all at the same time. However, it is always important to find small ways where you can prioritize your own well-being. It is critical to remember denying yourself self-care can lead you to burn out.
Please leave a comment below and let us know what your self-care routine is!
