Make Digestion Your Friend
As November comes to a close and we’re already deep into the holiday season, we don’t want to forget that November is National Family Caregivers Month. This is the time to honor and support our family caregivers who devote much of their time and energy into caring for loved ones.
It might be surprising to learn that there are over 90 million Americans who care for their loved ones handling various medical situations including chronic conditions, disease, disabilities, and the challenges that come with old age as well.
If you are a caregiver we appreciate and support what you do. We understand there are many issues you face day to day that can often times leave you feeling alone and depleted.
We recently spoke with Rita Wadhwani, Integrative Nurse Practitioner & Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist who practices here in the South Bay and has extensive experience helping caregivers with what they need as they care for their loved ones. “Caregiving is okay as long as it doesn’t compromise your own health and wellness,” Rita tells us.
Rita also shared some tips for caregiving that you may be able to incorporate into your own caregiving situation.
Balance– It is important to find balance for your mind, body and spirit. If this at all feels overwhelming, you can break these elements down into singular activities. Just keep in mind that many activities go hand-in-hand and while one activity may be a fit for benefiting your body, it most likely benefits your mind and spirit as well.
-For the Mind- medication, regular sessions with a therapist, doing something you enjoy that relaxes you. This could be a bubble bath without distraction, reading a book, listening to music, painting or some other creative activity.
-For your body- it could be as simple as a short walk, or a bike ride. Maybe you can join a fitness center or yoga studio. These things can be done alone, or many times it’s good to combine that time with a friend. Incorporate healthy eating as well that you can easily do every day, like smoothies or juices, and easy to grab snacks like nuts and berries.
-For the spirit- this is about finding connection to something bigger than yourself. It, like most things, is different for everyone. Some ideas could be meditating on your own, or attending a local church or support group, reading a book that speaks to you, or simply being outdoors and feeling the sunlight and fresh air. Once you find something that speaks to you, be consistent in your practice.
Practice Affirmations– Affirmations are positive statements you say to yourself. These statements are meant to challenge and overcome your negative thoughts. One way to start this is to think about an area of life you’d like to change. It helps to write the change you want in the present tense as if it were happening now. Put it on a sticky note and leave it somewhere you tend to be every day, like your bathroom mirror or home office desk. Repeat it to yourself when you see it.
Keep in mind, that to care for another, you need to care for yourself first. As Rita describes, “If you’ve ever been on a plane, the flight attendant tells you that in the event of an emergency, you put your oxygen mask on yourself before helping another who needs the oxygen mask as well.”
https://www.mindtools.com/air49f4/using-affirmations
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