Three easy tips for self-care when you have to caregive for others

Do you take care of others but neglect your own self-care?  Not sure how or where to get the self-care you need?  Three easy tips for self-care for those who care for others

Do you take care of other people?  Aging or sick parents, kids, husbands?  Feel like everyone asks of you and never gives and you never have time to yourself.  Feeling resentful, tired and frustrated? 

Self-care tip one

Breathe, stop and let your breath be your anchor.  When we are care taking we get really focused on our loved ones and how they are, what they need and we forget basics for ourselves.  Tip one reminds you to always come back to your breathe.  Inhale slowly and deeply to the count of five hold for a second or two and then exhale the count of five.  Repeat this for 3-5 minutes.  You take in fresh air and let out all the stale air that is not serving you.  You breathe in new energy that can help you feel lighter, more awake and more aware instead of reacting we can act in the pause of our moments. 

Self-care tip two

Live with intention.  Each day holds a new opportunity for all of us.  Start your day with a ritual for you.  Take few minutes to pray or meditate.  Focus and be aware of what you feel physically and mentally.  Soften your body and send loving kindness to the inner child that may be fearful or angry or just need you to acknowledge her.  Picture your inner child and what she would tell you she needs and honor that.  Let her know you hear her and you love her.  Accept every part of you, not just the ones that you like the best.

Self-care tip three

Remember why you are caretaking.  Maybe it is a sick parent or other relative or children or both.  Remember that it is an honor to get to spend this time with your loved one.  This is very real for me having dealt with taking care of a very sick parent within the last few years.  It helped when I was bone tired, angry, sad and any other of the 100’s of emotions that I went through on a daily basis to remind myself WHY.  I was honored because I got to spend the last few years of my father’s life with him.  I got to intentionally spend time knowing it was the end.  How many times do we not get to say good bye?  There were times during that experience that I wanted to run far away and hide but if I had then the rest of my live would have been spent with the knowledge that I gave away the time I had left with the man who gave me life.  It was an honor to spend that time with him and it helped me to remember that and feel it was something “I got to do” and not something “I had to do”… it makes a difference.