Taking Care of Yourself

Ask anyone who has been caregiving long enough and they will tell you that you HAVE to take care of yourself. If you get sick or burnt out, who will take care of the person(s) you are responsible for? Have you ever watched the safety video before your flight takes off? I always wondered how they expect a mother to place the oxygen mask over her mouth first before her children. But the logic is that in an emergency you, as the controlling adult, must be saved so you can help your children. It is similiar to being a caregiver. Here are some things I do to avoid caregiver burnout:

1. Spend $10 on Yourself at a Thrift Shop
I've been there, broke as a joke with four dollars to last me two weeks. I understand if you don't have the $10.00 to spend. But I recommend cutting back on something in order to give yourself the money. You deserve it! And you'll be amazed what you can score for only $10 in a thrift store. When I just need to clear my head, I mosey over to the GoodWill and peruse. Sometimes just trying on outfits or looking at all of the odds and ends in the kitchenware section makes me feel revived. My favorite item to buy when low on funds is a scarf. They are surely to be under $5 (mine always are and I live in expensive San Francisco!) and make you feel fancy.
2. Make a Scented Oil Compress
I saw these on a daytime TV show called The Dish. They induce a state of "ahhhhhh."  My mom purchased a couple of viles of essential jasmine and vanilla oil at a flea market. You can look at your local flea market or on amazon.com for whatever scents you like. Put a few drops on a damp washcloth. Roll them up tightly and keep by your nightstand. You can wipe them over your face and hands cold or microwave them for 30 seconds, up to you. If I feel myself starting to blow up at my grandma, I reach for one of these to calm down.
3. Write in a Journal
This is my all time favorite way to spend time with yourself. Often times I don't understand why I blow up at my grandma. It seems to be over something small, like she can't turn the channel on her remote and it really pisses me off to have to get up from my bed and help her. That is so not like me! So when writing in my journal I explore that incident and I often end up writing about other feelings and having a cry-fest to get it all out. Then I apologize to my grandmother and address the real issue with her.
4. Make a Collage of You and Your Family Member
When I get really annoyed and frustrated with my grandma and my situation as a caregiver, I take some time to look at photos of us during happier times. Especially looking at pictures of Grandma caring for me when I was a baby help remind me how much I love, respect, and owe her. If you have old pictures you can easily make them into a collage with cutouts of words from magazine and newspapers, or by printing words out yourself. I've added "patience", "love", "what goes around comes around", and "family" to mine.
5. Plan a Getaway
This is a relatively easy one for me since I work at an airline and can get away last minute for free (yup, free!). If you have children or a traditional job this may require more planning. But it is so worthwhile! Especially if you live in a cold and rainy climate, it's important to experience sunshine. I live in San Francisco, Ca and often travel to sunny San Diego,Ca or Las Vegas, NV. Even planning a "staycation" to a park or museum really helps. Look on their website or call them up to ask about discounted and/or free days. Most museums and exploratoriums have them.
6. Volunteer at an Event You Want to Attend
I don't have extra spending money to attend concerts or festivals. But that doesn't stop me from enjoying them! I've volunteered at Coachella Music Festival in Southern California, High Sierra and OutsideLands Music Festival in Northern California. Usually if you work four hours per day, you're given a ticket to enjoy the rest of that day or entire weekend if it's a festival. These festivals are a perfect way to rejuvenate your spirit. Caregiving for a family member is tough on you physically, mentally, and spiritually. Indulge in a day or weekend of positive energy and beautiful music.  Usually you can meet people online to catch a ride there. I often times receive free meals from vendors that I make friends with at the festival. It is all about putting yourself out there. My experience is mainly with festivals, but you can apply this to conferences, conventions, races, and street fairs.