Caring for a senior? – Be sure to care for yourself too.

The saying ‘you can’t pour from an empty cup’ may seem a little trite for a caregiver who likely makes several cups of tea each day. But the repercussions of running on empty as a caregiver can be serious, ranging from simply lacking all-important patience to experiencing complete burn-out.

Yes, Caregiver Appreciation Day has been and gone. But we don’t believe an appreciative mindset should be limited to a day, week or month. And nor should this sense of value be just provided by others – a little self-care can go a long way in turbulent times.

A common mistake that dedicated carers make is to take everything on the chin and neglect themselves, foregoing breaks and saying no to offers from others to help. A few moments to yourself can be life changing, especially if you are able to step away from the workplace and experience a change in pace and scenery, even if it’s only for a short period.

Similarly, if someone offers to help you in any way – take up that offer! Whether it be assistance in moving furniture or lifting a resident, or just help giving out those cups of tea – any way to conserve energy and feel the support of others will help get you through your day.

Time (can be on your side).

Switching off can be difficult. Little problems from work can circle around the brain – making it feel like you never actually left the workplace!

A good way to prevent this is by establishing a regular ‘circuit breaker’ activity to disconnect from the work mindset. If you can, stop on the way home from work and take in a few moments of quiet in a place with a natural outlook, such as a park or beach. Breathe deeply and watch the water or the trees moving in the breeze.

If your responsibilities at home are calling you this circuit breaker might happen on your commute. Whether you’re on foot, on public transport or driving in traffic, pop on a podcast (preferably something with a comedic element) and break away from the humdrum of your day with a good laugh. An audio book can have the same effect, replacing those swirling thoughts with an enticing narrative. Or simply put on some of your favourite songs and allow yourself to be carried away by good music.

Squashing the brainworm with breathing

If those thoughts are still breaking through, it could be time to try some mindfulness techniques. Acknowledge the thought you are having, then try to imagine setting it down while breathing deeply. Put away any distractions and simply take in what is happening around you. Actively being in the moment should help you to move on from the stress of your day.

Easier said than done? These techniques can be simple to learn and achieve using a mindfulness app or by listening to a meditation playlist, or even better, by taking some time out and attending a meditation or mindfulness class in your local area.

Pragmatism and priorities.

It’s all very well being incredibly organised and having a constant to-do list nearby. However sometimes that list can drag you into a spiral of time management failure.

If the list is getting too big, be it at home or at work, separate the tasks out into a Must, Should and Could column for each day. Be realistic with what goes into the Must and Should column and focus only on these. There’ll be other days to get to those errant Should and Could tasks!

Sharing is (sometimes) caring.

If “a problem shared is a problem halved” then coming home for a catch up with your partner can really help lighten the load. However sometimes too this ‘share time’ can come to dominate home life, dragging out and compounding issues rather than halving them.

If this is the case, it pays to have some strict rules in place. For example, it may be that you use time walking the dog with your partner as the ‘only’ time you can talk about work after hours. In this way you can hit the pressure valve and recalibrate for some quality relaxation time.

Make the workday as safe, easy and convenient as possible.

Incidents like spilled drinks are a part of life when caring for seniors. Being prepared for these unavoidable and unintentional incidents will help you to react with calmness when they do happen – which is helpful for lessening any sense of shame for the resident.

Place chair pads on all soft furnishings, to make cleaning up messes easy. Similarly, a clothing protector will allow seniors to feed themselves without fearing spills, enabling a sense of independence. Similarly, protective bed pads will ensure easier bedding changes, making for better rest for your residents.

At Vendella we offer free consultations. Expert assessment of product choice and usage can make a significant difference in making life easier.

Staycations and vacations.

As the last two years of closed borders have taught us, you don’t need to spend big money to get away and feel totally relaxed.

If staying close to home, why not try a restaurant or eatery you’ve never been to before, or voyage to the other end of town to check out a different neighbourhood. Sometimes just getting out of your backyard can be all you need to feel refreshed. For a true adventure, try Getting Lost – a card game that directs you into the unknown (while having you giggling along the way).

Out of town adventures don’t need to break the bank either. A few nights in a motel close to a beach or an airbnb in the wilderness will help slow the mind and leave you feeling refreshed. It doesn’t have to be 5-star to give you that sense of luxury – as long as there is some nature around a good hot shower!

An hour’s drive away can be a whole new world – and all that scenery quickly takes your mind away from the stress and helps for a proper unwind. Why not try a hike into the hills on the outskirts of your hometown, or head out to a beach or riverside for a picnic. Fresh air can do wonders to calm the mind.

We want to help you relax by saving you everyday time and effort, just like we’ve achieved for our other customers. Get in touch today to ensure work wellbeing is optimised. Also, follow us on Facebook for more helpful tips, and the occasional chocolate giveaway too (which we’ve found often helps with improving wellbeing!)

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I hired a plumber to help restore an old farmhouse and he had a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient truck refused to start.

While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His face was wreathed in smiles as he greeted his family.

Afterward, he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

“Oh, that’s my trouble tree,” he replied

“I know I can’t help having troubles on the job, but one thing’s for sure, those troubles don’t belong in the house with my family. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again.”

“Funny thing is,” he smiled,’ when I come out in the morning to pick ’em up, there aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.”

Author unknown