Anyone who’s been a caregiver knows how easy it is to take on too much and not give enough time and attention to rest and recover. This can quickly lead to stress, depression, and sometimes even anxiety.

When you’re caring for someone you love, it can be easy to get so caught up in taking care of others around you that you forget to care for yourself.

If this sounds like you, don’t worry; there are ways to help you put your own needs first while still helping your loved one out.

You’re taking care of someone else, leaving you with little time or energy to take care of yourself.

But, here are five tips from Dr. Charles Davenport, an experienced psychologist in Sarasota, Florida, that will help you avoid burnout and ensure you stay healthy as a caregiver.

1. Set Manageable Self-Care Goals

It can be challenging for caregivers to know when to shift gears. That’s why it’s crucial to set goals that work with your lifestyle and current challenges.

For example, if you’re a parent caring for an elderly parent while also taking care of your own family, one goal might be committing at least three nights each week to leaving early from work to be home in time for dinner with your children.

Over time, you may realize that it makes sense for family members or friends to help out more often to meet different self-care goals, but even small steps will help you achieve better overall health.

You might find it helpful to check in with yourself regularly by writing down your goals and evaluating your progress in a journal.

Individual therapy with a psychologist can also be of great help.

2. Rethink the Idea of Self-Care

There’s no manual for how much self-care is too much or too little. How you take care of yourself depends on the day, your health, and what your family needs from you.

In addition, there’s always a chance that if you’re not taking care of yourself well enough, it could become harder to help someone else at all (especially a loved one).

Sometimes self-care looks like resting. Other times it means taking the time you need to do something for yourself. If nothing else, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, and don’t wait until it’s too late! 

Don’t let the idea of self-care as an afterthought stop you from doing what works best for your well-being.

3. Don’t Take Everything Too Serious ( Forgive Yourself)

There are always days when we feel overwhelmed by stress. When your family member is struggling with a disease, illness, or injury, it can be hard not to take those feelings personally. You worry that you’re somehow at fault for their suffering.

If you’re feeling guilty about things you can’t control, start by forgiving yourself for these moments of weakness. You are not responsible for someone else’s illness or injury.

Remind yourself that you are doing everything in your power to help and that there is nothing more you could do even if you wanted to.

Once you’ve forgiven yourself, forgive others: It can be difficult to find compassion for others when struggling with ourselves.

But, as a caregiver, it’s important to remember that other people may not understand what you’re going through.

They may not realize how much stress they’re adding or how their words or actions affect you. So be kind and forgiving towards them, too, knowing that they likely have good intentions but don’t know any better.

4. Take care of your health and happiness

It can be hard to remember what’s essential for your health and happiness as a caregiver. Like caring for someone else, you have obligations, but you also have needs.

It’s often a good idea to find ways to take care of your physical and mental health and nurture relationships with others who can offer support.

Both you and your loved one (or others in your life) must do all you can to stay happy and healthy!

Make out time for exercise. If there are ways for you to get out, go for a walk, or go on a run, try it.

Even if it doesn’t feel like it helps, remember that physical activity can benefit you. For example, taking a quick walk around your neighborhood is good for your body and mind.

5. Connect With Your Loved ones

Your loved ones are your support system, but sometimes it’s easy for us to forget that. Our responsibilities as a caregiver often result in us being focused on others so much that we can easily neglect our needs. This can easily lead to career stress if left unchecked for long.

Make sure you’re not only doing things for yourself but also prioritizing time with those who matter most. 

This can be a dinner or just a call once in a while. It’s easy to feel like we have little control over our lives when we are caregivers because so much is on our plate.

It can sometimes be a pain to stay motivated and connected when life has taken on such an unexpected role, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. 

Staying involved will help you remain connected with your family and friends even if they aren’t physically present. A simple way to do that is by following their activities online via social media.

Wrap up

No one is immune from caregiver burnout, but learning how to take care of yourself will help you survive and thrive as a caregiver.

It can help you take care of yourself by giving you an outlet for your frustrations and allowing you to be present in your loved one’s life as well.

Remember that taking care of yourself doesn’t mean neglecting your responsibilities. Instead, it means taking time to do things that nourish you to have more energy to devote to those who need it most.

And remember, you are not alone! So many caregivers feel overwhelmed or like they are struggling with burnout at some point during their journey; there is support available if you need it.

If you’re a caregiver living in Florida struggling with stress, depression, or your marriage, it is always better to seek help from local experts. You can reach out to a local psychologist in Sarasota, Florida.

You can also contact psychologists in Venice.