Caregivers Need Care Too
Right now we are all being caregivers. Educators are taking care of their students and band families. Many of us are taking care of loved ones who are sick. Everyone is struggling, and if you are supporting or encouraging anyone in your life, you are a caregiver.
Although we all have these skills and do this from time to time, many of us are doing this much more, and in a more intense way, than we normally do. This can be overwhelming and exhausting. As much as we want to support our friends and family, it can be draining to have difficult conversations or provide extra care. We want to be there to lift them up, but sometimes we are very depleted ourselves.
I encourage you to spend time taking care of yourself. Recognize the extra responsibilities that you have in your life, and then resolve to make sure you are prepared for this work.
You cannot help anyone if you are exhausted and depleted. Taking time for self-care is not selfish, but is actually a gift to others. You must be rested and centered to be able to support a friend or take care of a family member.
In this time where we’re all exhausted, resolve to take time to stay energized and rested. Time spent exercising, preparing healthier meals, sleeping, or just relaxing is very valuable. Time spent playing and renewing yourself is time WELL SPENT! You may need to schedule time in your calendar for rest or play until you get into this habit.
I take time most every day to relax and read. I find this keeps me centered, and time “away” in a good book removes me from the stresses of my life. I love to read, and I’m always a better person when I take time to do it. There was a time a few years ago when I stopped reading as much in an attempt to get more work done. I found that I was less centered, less productive, and I suspect less fun to be around.
We must all accept our role as caregivers in this difficult time, but make sure you give others the gift of being ready to help them by doing self-care every day. We can all make it through this time. Just prioritize yourself and your own care so that you can then be ready to help others.
Tim Hinton
August 20, 2021
