{"id":110,"date":"2018-08-10T14:52:52","date_gmt":"2018-08-10T13:52:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.discountsforcarers.com\/?p=110"},"modified":"2021-06-01T09:42:27","modified_gmt":"2021-06-01T08:42:27","slug":"top-5-self-care-tips-for-carers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discountsforcarers.com\/blog\/top-5-self-care-tips-for-carers\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Self Care Tips for Carers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here are the top 5 self care tips for carers – practical and personal tools for your wellbeing. Follow these tips and make little changes to enrich your life and health.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At first, implementing these practical and personal tools into your role may feel counter-intuitive. Small investments of time you will enrich your caring relationship, and allow it to function at a more efficient level.<\/p>\n

When your role is to take care of the needs of another it is easy to become a master at de-prioritising yourself. It feels logical.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is a point at which this can become unhealthy. It is important to strike the right balance between your self-care and care work. This is particularly true of the home environment; boundary lines are blurred between your own space and the needs of those you care for.<\/p>\n

This is a natural learning curve within the dynamic.<\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”Not thinking of yourself can be a habit developed through the ongoing reactive response to the more pressing needs outside of the self.” username=”discountsforcarers”]<\/p>\n

Lack of sleep and exercise, neglecting your own health and trips to the doctors, physical injury and strain and the impact of caring on other relationships with friends, family and partners are the major concerns regularly cited by those in this profession.<\/p>\n

It is vital therefore, to make time within the day to invest in your own wellbeing.<\/p>\n

In fact, it\u2019s also part of the job; when you look after your own needs you can give a quality of care that is happier, healthier and much more robust.<\/p>\n

Me time! Invest in yourself<\/h2>\n

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Good quality \u2018me time\u2019 will provide you with a powerful asset as a Carer.<\/p>\n

Me time works to become a key element of your personal support system and the base through which that will grow and strengthen.<\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”Making time for yourself, no matter how limited will give you an identity outside of caring that you can rely upon in times of change and uncertainty.” username=”discountsforcarers”]<\/p>\n

The logic of caring can often dictate that making time for yourself is last on the list of things to do, however the habit of forgetting oneself is detrimental to the work as it does not consider the logic that if your health, or sense of wellbeing becomes an issue your ability to care is going to be greatly diminished or even unable to function.<\/p>\n

Internalise this one idea and make yourself<\/em> a small commitment of time every day – and take the most time you can.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a logic to it.<\/p>\n

Organise it, write it down – where does your five minutes to yourself, your trip to the doctors, 8 hours sleep or evening off fit in?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re long overdue a holiday and can find the support to fit one in we\u2019ve negotiated some amazing travel deals for Carers<\/u><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on holidays and travel.<\/u><\/p>\n

Alternatively a day trip might be just what the doctor ordered \u2013 get some ideas and great discounts in our specially negotiated deals<\/u><\/strong><\/a> with theme parks, murder mystery days and concert ticket providers.<\/p>\n

Enjoy yourself \u2013 you deserve it!<\/p>\n

Know your limits and ask for help<\/h2>\n

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As you are probably aware caring is an all-encompassing job, and because of this it is important to be able to recognise both your personal and professional limitations.<\/p>\n

In acknowledging this and asking for assistance you will be extending your capacity to care at the highest level.<\/p>\n

Firstly, it is important to identify yourself as a Carer and call in the support that\u2019s out there. This can include:<\/p>\n