For some family caregivers the concept of leisure time is a foreign one. If you haven't done anything just for fun lately, you might be overdue for figuring out how to take regular time away from being a caregiver.
You Are Taking Time for Leisure, Right?
If your first thought was that you can't remember the last time you took time away from being a caregiver, then you're doing leisure time wrong. Taking a break means that you're doing more than reading before bed. You need to be able to leave caregiving and its demands behind you for an hour or longer and think about other things for a little while.
Look at What You Love to Do
What is it that you enjoy doing with your free time? Even before you became a caregiver, there were things that you did that gave you enjoyment and that lit you up. You might have taken more time to enjoy crafts, like needlepoint or sewing. Or maybe you tinkered with engines in the garage. Whatever it was that you used to do, you need to be able to continue to do that now.
Reach out to People You Love
Some of the best activities and leisure time are spent with the people that you love. If you haven't reached out to friends and family members recently, then it's time to get back in that habit. Start making plans with the people that you love and find things that you can do together to enjoy down time more regularly.
Try New Things
Sometimes it's just not reasonable to do the things that you used to love. Perhaps you've outgrown them or your health has changed so that activities like skydiving just don't make sense anymore. Start using your leisure time to explore new hobbies and activities. This can be a fantastic way to enjoy your time away and to find something new for you to get excited about when you have some extra time. You might want to take a class or join a club to really learn about new hobbies.
If you're still not sure what you can do in order to give yourself a break, you might need to sit down and do some serious brainstorming. You can't be an effective caregiver unless you're also giving yourself time away. Make a list and schedule some time to give some of those activities a try.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING HIRING IN-HOME CAREGIVERS IN GOLD COAST, IL, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE CHICAGO. CALL TODAY: 312.382.8888.
You Are Taking Time for Leisure, Right?
If your first thought was that you can't remember the last time you took time away from being a caregiver, then you're doing leisure time wrong. Taking a break means that you're doing more than reading before bed. You need to be able to leave caregiving and its demands behind you for an hour or longer and think about other things for a little while.
Look at What You Love to Do
What is it that you enjoy doing with your free time? Even before you became a caregiver, there were things that you did that gave you enjoyment and that lit you up. You might have taken more time to enjoy crafts, like needlepoint or sewing. Or maybe you tinkered with engines in the garage. Whatever it was that you used to do, you need to be able to continue to do that now.
Reach out to People You Love
Some of the best activities and leisure time are spent with the people that you love. If you haven't reached out to friends and family members recently, then it's time to get back in that habit. Start making plans with the people that you love and find things that you can do together to enjoy down time more regularly.
Try New Things
Sometimes it's just not reasonable to do the things that you used to love. Perhaps you've outgrown them or your health has changed so that activities like skydiving just don't make sense anymore. Start using your leisure time to explore new hobbies and activities. This can be a fantastic way to enjoy your time away and to find something new for you to get excited about when you have some extra time. You might want to take a class or join a club to really learn about new hobbies.
If you're still not sure what you can do in order to give yourself a break, you might need to sit down and do some serious brainstorming. You can't be an effective caregiver unless you're also giving yourself time away. Make a list and schedule some time to give some of those activities a try.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING HIRING IN-HOME CAREGIVERS IN GOLD COAST, IL, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE CHICAGO. CALL TODAY: 312.382.8888.