Staying Mindful of Your Emotions

When you’re continually reacting to someone else’s needs, how can you stay mindful of your own?

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Caregiving is typically focused on the task at hand — what did mom, dad, or a loved one do, and, as a result, what do they need next? As a caregiver, it’s easy to get caught in reacting and forget about your own emotional needs. We’ve mentioned how to avoid burnout, here’s a quick reminder of a few strategies for also prioritizing your emotional needs.

Write

When you’re feeling frustrated by a choice the person you’re caring for made, take a minute to write the feeling down — “I’m feeling X because of Y…” After your shift or when you have a moment to relax, you’ll be in a better place to evaluate the feeling and next steps, like if you should start a conversation with the person you’re caring for or if you’re able to let the frustration go.

Boundaries

Being a caregiver is an admirable and selfless act. It’s also OK to put yourself first so you can maintain your identity, activities, and interests outside of caregiving. Saying “yes” to help is one way to protect time for these things. It’s also OK to set boundaries with the person you are caring for, such as what types of care you’re comfortable providing. Remember the airplane oxygen mask analogy — you need to put your own on first before helping anyone else!

Support

We all have two families: our family of origin and our family of choice (friends). Regardless of where you find the most support, rely on these people when you need to process your experiences caregiving and when you need to seek advice. While caregiving can be an incredibly rewarding experience, it’s hard and emotional work, too. Your support system is there to help you unwind, reset, and stay true to your needs.