If you are caring for a loved one full time it can seem like a never-ending list of chores. Some days you feel okay about your workload and other days you want to run away and hide in a cave. Then there is the fact that you feel guilty because you are not putting the person you are caring for first. However, if you stop for a moment and take some time to think, you will realize that full-time carers need care too. This isn’t something you should feel guilty about. It is what you need to do to carry on. Here are four of the reasons why.
To Stop Feeling Stressed
Compare your care work to another full-time job. If you worked in an office, for example, you would leave at around 5 pm every day and have the evening to yourself, your weekends would be free, and you would get holidays too. If you are a full-time carer, you probably don’t get any of that and it leads to you feeling stressed. Don’t feel guilty about needing time to yourself. Ask friends or relatives to help if you need to take some time for yourself and explore respite care near me to find support in your area. Stressing yourself out is not the answer.
To Avoid Physical Injury
Being a full-time carer can take its toll on your body. Lifting can damage your back and pushing a wheelchair can affect your knees. Even top athletes have to take a break every few days so that they don’t get injured, and you are no different. You are no good to the person you are caring for if you are injured and can’t do anything to help them so avoid this happening by taking care of yourself too.
To Avoid Loneliness
Caring can be a lonely occupation. Most of the time it is just you and the person you are caring for. It is easy to lose touch with the outside world and with your friends, but you need people around you more than ever if you are a carer. You need to be able to talk about different things, let off steam, and have someone ask about you for a change. You can take care of yourself by making sure that you have your own life too.
For Your Sense of Self
Everyone should have an idea of who they are and what they like but this can go out of the window if you are a full-time carer. You are so busy concentrating on the person you are caring for that never think about yourself. Spending some time on activities that you enjoy and doing things that are just for you will allow you to recharge your batteries. That way you will be more relaxed and better able to be a full-time carer.
Remember that you are important too and even though you are a full-time carer, you need some respite from time to time. Don’t feel guilty about asking for help or wanting to take time for yourself.
