Self-care is all about taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health, but it’s also something that family caregivers overlook. You feel it’s most important to focus on the things your dad needs, but you risk burning out. Spend September’s Self-Care Awareness Month making sure you do these six things to de-stress each day.
Eat a Balanced Diet
When you focus on foods that are high in sugar, fat, and sodium, you’re not providing the fuel your body needs. Eat a balanced diet and you’ll find yourself feeling better. Lean protein, loads of veggies, fresh fruit, dairy, and whole grains are essential.
If you really want a sweet treat, learn healthier ways to make them. Instead of boxed brownie mix, make brownies with almond flour or white wheat flour and pureed dates or bananas in place of the sugar.
Go Outside for a Walk
Walking on a treadmill is good exercise, but walking outside in nature is far more soothing. Aim for at least 30 minutes outside each day walking in the sun. If you can find a quiet forest trail, that’s a good way to de-stress while also getting exercise.
Find a Hobby You Enjoy
Explore different hobbies until you find one that you love. You might discover that photographing birds relaxes you. You may prefer painting, coloring, or knitting. Other popular hobbies that can be soothing include gardening, building models of wooden houses and buildings, or baking.
Baking is a good choice if you’d like to have a hobby that also fills the freezer with bread dough that is ready to thaw and bake when needed.
Play Music While Completing Chores
While you’re cleaning your dad’s home, doing his laundry, and making beds, put on some music. Aim for something with a beat that you can dance and sing along to. Music helps boost your mood and can help add exercise to your routine.
Sit Outside With a Book
Reading helps you de-stress as you get swept away to another place or time. Try to set aside an hour each day for reading. Your public library is a great source for free books, but you could also find free books on BookBub or sign up for a service like Kindle Unlimited where you can read as much as you want for a low monthly fee.
Have a Day Off with the Help of In-Home Care
When was the last time you took a day off? This doesn’t mean a day off of work to bring your dad to an appointment or to run errands. It means a full day off where you don’t do anything but relax. It’s likely time, and it’s an important part of self-care.
In-home care is a service where a caregiver comes to your dad’s home to help him out. The goal is to support his desire to age at home. With in-home care aides helping out, your dad embraces his independence without risking his safety. Learn more about having caregivers help out so that you have time for self-care.
If you or an aging loved one is considering in-home care in Carrollton, TX, please contact the caring staff at Clear Path Home Care today. Call 817-928-5788.
Clear Path Home Care provides compassionate, high quality home care in Denton County, Montague County, Cooke County, Grayson County, Fannin County, Lamar County, Wise County, Collin County, Hunt County, Delta County, and Hopkins County in Texas.
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