A very wise woman told me that when she’s feeling overwhelmed with meeting all of the needs of her care receiver, she has found that doing one small thing for herself helps reduce her caregiver stress. One small act of self-care provides her with a sense of control and accomplishment.

She might: 

• Make a list of things for which she is grateful

• Mail an overdue birthday card or thank you note

• Go for a walk around the block 

As all caregivers know, the duties of caring for someone who cannot care for themselves are endless and mind-numbingly repetitive. At the end of the day, even though you’ve spent the bulk of your time providing care, it can be hard to identify what you accomplished. 

The approaching holidays can add more strain. If you feel overwhelmed with all of the things you feel you need to do for others, try setting those responsibilities aside long enough for you to name and complete one small thing for yourself. If you will do this every day, you might start to feel a little less pressured about the season and a little more energized when it comes to doing all the big things that are required of you as a caregiver. 

Thought for the Day 

"I will do one small thing for myself today."