7 Summer Self-Care Tips for Caregivers on the Go
Caregivers should attend to their physical and mental well-being while caring for a loved one. The magnitude of your service directly correlates to the amount of time you spend to recharge and renew yourself. The summer schedule tends to be looser, and more extended warmer days make it easier to prioritize self-care.
Here are seven tips to help you function from the point of strength and wellness during summer trips with an older loved one under your care.
Schedule Some Alone Time
Summer weather may encourage you to overextend yourself. Setting aside at least fifteen minutes to do what you love and lose yourself before returning to reality is best.
Wear Summer Fit Clothes
Whether going on a day trip or summer vacation with a loved one under your care, you must select outfits that keep you cool in the warm summer weather. Go for a baggy, light-colored outfit made of breathable fabrics that will make you comfortable as you perform your caregiving role. Remember to protect your skin with sunscreens and a hat when going out in the sun.
Have Your Support System
Do not feel alone. Professional help exists around Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Minnetonka, and Hennepin County, MN, which you can seek when you feel overwhelmed. You can also let family and friends chip in wherever they can. Caregivers around Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Minnetonka, and Hennepin County have online support groups where they share experiences and caregiving tips as they give moral support to each other.
Exercise
The benefits of exercising are vast and can be easily noticed in caregivers who regularly exercise daily. Exercising makes you sleep better, can reduce depression, and increase alertness.
Switch up your workouts during summer by considering outdoor yoga, among other activities you are used to doing indoors. Hiking is a suitable exercise during summer; you can ask the loved one under your care to join you, and it will benefit you both.
Eat Healthy and Hydrate
Take advantage of a variety of fresh produce during summer. Eat food rich in nutrients, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and do not forget to drink at least eight glasses of water daily to hydrate. Summer in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Minnetonka, and Hennepin County, MN, can cause heat exhaustion and dehydration.
Get Enough Sleep
Build an everyday regime such as meditating or a workout routine to have a restful sleep at night. Six to eight hours of sleep is recommended to keep you energetic during the day.
Read Books
Summer is the best time to grab a book you bought earlier and had no time to read. For fun, you can read a novel about Alzheimer's and dementia for personal development. New caregiving skills will significantly improve the quality of care you provide to an older individual. Also, being an educated caregiver enhances your communication with healthcare providers and future preparations.
Conclusion
It is easy to forget about your well-being and wellness while caring for others. Taking these steps helps prevent caregiver burnout and enables you to enjoy summer like everybody else. Join us at Senior Helpers of Minneapolis, an in-house care provider in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Minnetonka, and Hennepin County. We are a rapidly growing company that cares about your professional development. Contact us for any assistance, or visit our website to learn more about our different services.