One of my favorite quotes is “You can’t argue with crazy”. It’s a proven fact you just can’t. That is why in my last post I provided suggestions for dealing with the intolerable. A dear friend who recently read it said, “Great post, but how do I take care of me? I acknowledge when caring for someone, practicing self-awareness and self-care can fall by the wayside, but they shouldn’t. As caregiver, you need to put your oxygen mask on first, before you assist others”.

In other words, the health of your body, mind, and spirit are essential to safeguarding your wellbeing. The best way to do this is to implement tiny self-care habits every day, to regularly include a little bit of love and attention for your own body, mind, and soul in your life. In turn, this will allow you to be more compassionate and understanding without being consumed by your duties as a caregiver. I find the following to be excellent tools.

• Exercise daily, whether it is 30 minutes or an hour. This is an amazing tool that clears your mind and body.
• Mediation decreases anxiety while boosting empathy.
• Keep a journal– reflective writing helps and- who knows- you might look back and realize it truly wasn’t a big deal
• Stay connected to the outside world with a phone call, a walk with a friend, or starting a blog
• Take on a healing project whether it’s making pottery, knitting, or reupholstering a piece of furniture
• Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help