Tackling Caregiver Stress Before it Becomes too Much

1. Stay in the moment

Rather than thinking of all the tasks and challenges you must tackle throughout the day, focus on the current task at hand. Being in the present and focusing on current tasks allows you to easily break down the overwhelming number of tasks you have in a day into “bite-sized” easily manageable tasks. Thinking in this mindset will help keep you motivated and moving in the right direction. It will also aid in preventing negative feelings from creeping up.

2. Eat Right

Skipping meals is common amongst caregivers. However, proper eating habits are vital for caregivers to get the fuel they need to function. A muffin and coffee in the morning will likely not get you through lunchtime. Instead, try eating oatmeal with fresh fruit. This option offers convenience and nutritional value that will keep you going.

Easy Comforts to help you get the nutritional and easy breakfast you deserve. Cook up to four hard or soft boiled eggs in minutes with a microwave egg boiler. You could also try out the microwave egg muffin cooker.

Pro tip: when cooking an egg muffin, use a whole grain bread such as an english muffin to help fill you up and stabilize your blood sugar levels.

3. Get the right amount of sleep

Scientific research reminds us that seven to nine hours of sleep per night is best. Establishing a sleep routine and sticking to it will help keep your body and mind in check. While you sleep, your body is hard at work getting you ready for tomorrow by doing things like growing and repairing tissue, restoring energy lost, and relaxing overtired muscles. The quality and amount of sleep you get each night affects almost every aspect of what you experience while awake.

However, as a caregiver, it is normal to experience your mind racing with a million worries about the care of their loved ones. Just as children need bedtime stories and lullabies, many adults need routines before sleep. Playing video games and watching TV tend to be too stimulating before bed, and alcohol may put you to sleep but won’t allow your body to repair from that day’s activities. Instead, try starting a journal and writing down all of your worries and thoughts each night, gently stretch before getting into bed, or read a book.

Easy Comforts offers a variety of products to incorporate into your sleep routine that help promote sleep and relaxation. Experience the calming scents of lavender and other essential oils in one of the aromatherapy diffusers, or try giving yourself a relaxing foot massage with a vibrating foot massager. Easy Comforts also offers products such as Native Remedies Hemp + Sleep tablets which are a healthy and natural way to promote relaxation and sleep.

4. Exercise

As a caregiver, finding the time or will to exercise can be daunting. You don’t want to spend any of your hard-earned free time working up a sweat and feeling a whole new kind of tired on top of everything else. However, exercising can actually have the adverse effect on how tired you are. Regular exercise promotes better sleep, reduces tension and depression, and increases energy and alertness.

If finding time for exercise is a struggle for you, try incorporating it into your daily activities. Take your loved one for a walk outside. The fresh air and exercise will be very beneficial for their health as well. Finish off the walk with a stretching exercise for the both of you.

For individuals who are able to find some free time for exercise, find activities you enjoy to make it something you look forward to rather than another task. The activities you choose to do could be things such as jogging, gardening, walking the mall, biking, swimming, or really anything that gets you moving for at least 20 minutes a day.