As a family caregiver, your daily routine may be stressful and chaotic, which is why you need to take time off. During these breaks, focus on activities that bring you joy. Here are some fun things you can do when taking a break from your caregiver role.
1. Take a Fun Trip
Go on a cruise to an exotic island, take a road trip to see your favorite band live, or plan a romantic getaway with your spouse. The objective is to have fun while you’re away from home. While on vacation, try not to focus on your aging loved one. It’s okay to check in and see how he or she is doing, but don’t make it your main priority. A change in scenery may help you relax and regroup, gaining a clearer perspective before returning to your caregiving duties.
Family caregivers need to care for their own wellbeing. If you’re caring for an aging loved one and are feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a professional caregiver to provide senior home care. Arlington families who want to prevent burnout can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. One of our professional caregivers can assist your loved one at home while you take a nap, go to work, run errands, or go on vacation.
2. Watch a Movie Marathon
If you’re a big fan of films, spend your break watching new releases at the local movie theater. You can make it a double or triple feature with friends or go to the theater alone. Watching films allows you to focus on something entertaining, as opposed to worrying about your loved one’s current health situation. Getting out of the house and having a movie marathon can relax your mind and enhance your mood, even if only temporarily.
3. Treat Yourself to a SpaRetreat
Weekly and monthly trips to the spa can be relaxing, but a spa retreat during a break from caregiving could provide you with maximum benefits. While at the spa resort, you could participate in activities that relax your mind and muscles, easing tension and pain. You can spend time with like-minded people, decompress, and rejuvenate in a supportive environment. Instead of catering to your loved one, you can be pampered while participating in fun and soothing activities.
You want to be an amazing caregiver for your loved one, so it’s critical that you take care of yourself, too. Caring for senior loved ones can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
4. Work on Goals
The aspirations you had before becoming a family caregiver should never be abandoned. During your break, focus on those goals and see what you can do to turn them into reality. Spend your time off meeting with professionals who can help your goals come to fruition, regardless of how long that may take. Working on your goals prevents you from experiencing regret, anger, and other negative emotions caregivers often feel when they give up on their dreams to care for their aging parents.
5. Learn a New Craft
After spending countless days putting your loved one’s wellbeing before your own, it’s time to do something interesting, such as learning a new language, enrolling in a painting course, or taking an exercise class. Fun activities such as these can keep you socially active while giving you a sense of purpose. Once you’ve mastered one new craft or activity, move on to another fun and stimulating activity during your next break. Learning new crafts allows your inner creativity to flow, which may reduce stress, lower your blood pressure, and lead to a better quality of life.
Another way to reduce stress is to have a trained professional caregiver join your caregiving team. There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to manage if their families opt for professional home care service. Arlington families can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep their loved ones safe and comfortable while aging in place. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Assisting Hands Home Care. Reach out to one of our compassionate Care Managers today at (703) 997-4334.
