If today’s to-dos look like a lot more than you can possibly fit into 24 short hours, you are not alone! Family caregivers are frequently inundated with daily care tasks: Shopping and other errands. Planning activities that are purposeful and enjoyable for the older adult. Medical appointments. Personal care and hygiene. Planning and preparing meals. Housework and laundry. And all of this is on top of meeting the needs of your own household, children, spouse, and if there’s any time left over, yourself!
We invite you to hit the pause button for just a moment, take a deep breath, and implement these tried-and-true time management techniques to help each day run more smoothly.
Start the day by prioritizing tasks into categories, such as what must be done today, what you’d like to accomplish today, and what can wait until another day. This allows you to commit your full attention to the most pressing needs and set aside the rest.
With your list of responsibilities for the day in hand, choose who is best suited to handle them. You may be the best person to help a senior loved one with showering and getting ready for the day, while a friend might be able to take the older adult to the physician and out for lunch afterwards.
The temptation to procrastinate can be a strong one to overcome! Now that you have a plan set up for your day, jump in and accomplish the tasks that require your attention. More importantly, keep in mind self-care should always be a high priority. Surround yourself with a strong support system that allows you enough time away to make sure your own health is never being compromised.
Through it all, remind yourself that the work you are doing is exceptionally important. It is easy to get caught up in the daily details and lose sight of the big picture and the fact that everything you do for the senior you love is producing a positive and lasting impact.
Bearing that in mind, allow yourself some grace on the days when things do not go as planned, which will surely end up being the case from time to time! When a setback or crisis arises and your to-dos are left undone, realize that tomorrow is a brand new day and the tasks will undoubtedly be there whenever you are prepared to tackle them again.
Help at Home Senior Care’s care providers are experienced, fully trained, and ready to assist family caregivers in meeting each one of a senior family member’s needs – permitting you the time away you'll need for a healthy and balanced life. Contact us at (530) 885-7444 for a free of charge in-home consultation and to learn more about our in-home care in Rocklin, CA and the nearby communities.
