Everyone knows how important health is. I think that for caregivers who are taking care of a loved one with health issues and concerns the notion of health is complex. What is health and relative to what? Before the accident or prior to the onset of a disease? Health becomes measured by a matter of degrees; especially when a complete recovery is not in the cards.
And what about the health of the caregiver who often overextends his or her self to take care of others and make ends meet?
It’s not easy. Even so, you can’t stop trying to achieve better health for yourself or your loved one. Even if the ‘health’ you achieve does not make anyone physically better. For example, I found that getting my wife Margaret fresh air did lift her spirits even though she was terminally ill with a Stage Four Pancreatic Cancer diagnosis of six months at best. It improved my mood, too. I believe that improvement made it possible for us to have more quality time together with the time we had left which turned out to be only three months - half of what had been diagnosed.
I recently came across an article, 25 Science-Backed Ways to Change Your Life by Taking Better Care of Yourself, by Alexandra Duron. In it she explores activities big and small that can help reduce stress and improve health to one degree or another. Although her piece is geared for the general public, it can be applied to caregivers. Here are a few examples she gave that stood out for me:
• Get outside.
Ditching the comfort of your home is a great way to improve mental and physical health. Similar to meditation, spending time out of doors benefits the brain. Other research suggests that being outside in nature also makes us feel more alive. Even living in an area with more green space (i.e. parks and gardens) is associated with greater life satisfaction and less mental distress.
• Pay it forward.
By helping others, we actually help ourselves, too. Lending a hand not only boosts mental health, but may also lead to a longer life. Volunteering also positively affects self-confidence, self-esteem, and general well being.
It is important to note here that even though some caregivers can’t just take a mini-vacation or pay for an exercise classes, massages, or organic foods, it is still possible to live a healthier life by taking time on a regular basis to be good to your mind, body, and soul.
To read her complete article, click here.
Related: Sidestepping Caregiver Burnout
