How to Avoid Burnout While Working As a Live in Caregiver
Hearing the word caregiving seems a very hard job. Well that is true! It comes with so much stress, difficulties and problems. Aside from that, you also need to deal with your personal needs and space.
I myself, is a caregiver to an old lady. She has dementia and other old age health problems. I live with her for over a year now. But I’ve been in this industry for almost 3 years now.
It is a very fullfilling job indeed. And Im very happy with it. It is my dream job. To be able to help people emotionally and physically, to hear their stories of their childhood and to be able to see them happy knowing that there is someone to care for them at these age makes you feel needed and powerful. It makes you feel very strong independent person. But like other jobs, it will also come to a point that you get tired or you feel burn out. Don’t worry I will give you some tips to destress and to renew yourself again.
Here are some tips for you to know:
•Have a Break
Having a break or day off is what we need sometimes. I understand in this pandemic time, it is very hard to go out specially if you are living with a high risk person. Now there are other solutions. Open the windows of your house or workplace. It is very important not to loose your connection with nature. If you are able to go outside even for a few minutes to walk, it helps. It is better to do it everyday rather than all day sitting in the house. I do it too so I can guarantee you that it is very healthy and makes you feel good.
•Eat Good Food
One of the reason why I feel burn out sometimes is because I rarely eat what I want to eat now. I live with my employer, although I get to cook my food, it is still very hard for me because some of the ingridients I need is not allowed in the house, so what I do is if there is chance to go out, I eat what I want to satisfy my cravings. It sounds cliche but it works. You will feel better after that. But don’t forget to still watch what you eat. Because remember you need to be healthy to work and take care of others.
- Exercise
Your work is very tiring, I know rest is what you want right now, but mind you exercise affects all parts of your body including your brain. If you feel healthy and active, and you feel good about yourself, you will feel less stressed.
•Connection with Family and Friends
This is the most important thing for me. At the end of december, my phone fell down and it did not work for few days. I lost connection with everyone. I was stucked inside the house because it is lockdown and no one will take care of my employer if I will go out. It’s almost 4 days I am just at home waiting for another day. To be able to connect with people outside of your work will make it easier for us, live in caregivers and workers to fight the what they called “homesick”. It may sound too much but really I’ve been there. I felt all the stress and pressure on my job on those times. Where you have no one to talk to. So if I were you, I will make sure I am connected to people I love, most specially your family.
Everyone of us will come to a point where we feel that everything is too much and you are tired of your job or anything that you do. I want to tell you that it is normal to feel that and it is okay. By the time that you feel that, I want you to remember how you used to love what you are doing and how it made you a better person today. I hope it helps you too. Have a nice day!
Originally published at https://jonalynvictoria008.medium.com on February 4, 2021.
