Special to the Recorder
People who are caring for loved ones need to also think about themselves during the holiday season.
Here are eight great tips for ways that people who give so much to others can also take care of themselves.
1) Commit to seeing a doctor. More than 70% of caregivers don't see a doctor.
2) Commit to doing something that brings joy to your heart. It doesn’t have to be exotic: a good movie, watch a standup comedian, read a good book, paint, play the piano …something that speaks beauty and joy to you in the middle of your stuff.
3) Make a list of people you resent and forgive them and then burn the list. Lose the grudges but keep boundaries.
4) Make one small change in your diet. For instance, substitute water for a sugary drink. Grab a piece of fruit instead of a candy bar. Substitute a salad for a burger … olive oil for butter.
5) Send a Christmas card to yourself. Pick out a card your loved one would send if he/she were healthy emotionally and physically. And put a $10 bill in it.
6) Do something physical. Walk to the back of the house and back. Alan Alda walks around to the music of John Phillips Sousa to help with his Parkinson's. He's not a doctor but he played one on TV, and it’s pretty good advice. He lifts up his knees. Something that simple can really benefit caregivers. Weight gain is common in caregivers.
7) Isolation is crippling. Go to church or other places of worship. Slip in and listen to the music of the season.
8) Call a trusted friend and tell them you're struggling. Take a leap of faith that they will listen. Don’t ask for solutions, just an ear and a tender heart.
A 30-plus year caregiver for his wife, Gracie, who lives with severe disabilities, Peter Rosenberger understands the caregiver’s journey. Broadcasting on Sirius XM's Family Talk Channel (131) and an additional 180 stations through American Family Radio, Rosenberger hosts the nation's #1 show for family caregivers. From autism to Alzheimer’s to addiction, he addresses the needs of those caring for loved ones with chronic impairments.
