Self Love = Self Care

   |   

Give Yourself a Kiss, If  You Want to Hold the Beautiful One, Hold Yourself”

Rumi

As a physical therapist, I get to see the dynamics between couples when one is sick and the other is the caregiver.  It’s often not a pretty sight.  The caregiver is all self-sacrifice – not accepting help from others because, “they don’t know what they are doing,” or “I have to keep telling them  what to do so I’d rather do it myself.”

And what does the caregiver look like?  Sunken eyes from lack of sleep, hungry from not eating and physically worn down.  How is this helpful to the loved one?  It’s not.  Self sacrifice is not noble, it’s selfish.  You can’t provide the best care for others if you can’t provide it for yourself.

You Can’t Drink From a Well That’s Run Dry

How do you practice self-care as a caregiver?

  • Train your health care providers.  If you find that they don’t retain what to do from one day to the next, write a list and keep chipping away until they are doing what you need.  If that doesn’t work, request a replacement.
  • Get sleep.  A lack of sleep affects your mood, your memory and your immune system among other things.
  • Eat healthy meals.  Oftentimes, caregivers provide good nutrition for their loved ones but not for themselves because they are too tired or they are using food to self-soothe.
  • Give yourself a break.  Ask a trusted family or friend to step in for you so you can talk a walk, go to a movie, have lunch with a friend.  Just that little bit does a world of good
  • Steal moments.  Spruce up an area of the home that is just for you to meditate, read a book or have a cup of coffee.

The more you give to yourself, the more you can give to others.

#Selfcare #Selflove #stealmoments #caregiver #helpyourselftohelpothers