I invite you to check out my observations and thoughts on the critical issues and common blocks that can truly interrupt a family caregiver’s daily well-being and joy.
You will notice each blog includes the “Help yourself. Help others.” sign off. Over the years, these words have initiated many comments from fellow family caregivers including: “Shouldn’t this thought be reversed?” “It sounds a very selfish,” “I would have trouble living like this,” etc. All great points that allow me to reinforce the importance of family caregivers making self-care a priority in their lives. With self-care being a core daily practice, family caregivers have healthier emotional and physical lives and actually provide better care to their loved ones...truly a life win-win!
Please take a moment and look through the collection of real and inspiring stories that speak to where you may be in your caregiving journey, and thoughts and steps to consider to experience an emotional and physical healthier life.
Caring for the Caregiver Blog
A Little Secret...Multitasking Doesn't Exist!
When you’re a family caregiver, your list of to-dos probably feels endless: doctor appointments, delivering medications, prepping meals, shopping, scheduling home visits, not to mention caring for your own family, working, and, oh, trying to carve out a few minutes of peace and quiet… and that’s just Monday…
Get Out of Your Own Head!
Some lessons are more difficult to learn than others. The consequences of a miss may not be dire but can be unsettling and a real loss. Please take a few minutes to learn how to take a second look at your thoughts to avoid connecting with an incorrect personal story…
Wanna Be Happy? Follow Your Joy!
Finding happiness is a wonderful goal. When we are happy it makes life more positive, productive and less stressful. Find out the best way to achieve personal happiness and grow it…
Acceptance Liberates!
As a family caregiver, truly accepting the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s health and its influences on your life is the first step to living a more balanced and fulfilling life. See why and how you should embrace this mindset...
Desire a Great 2024...Think from the Inside Out!
Research shows only 9% of adults keep their New Year Resolutions for the entire year and nearly 25% quit after the first week. I believe this says more about the way we choose our resolutions instead of our desire to keep them. Please take a look at an approach that aligns directly with your personal needs and desires and will deliver a lot more traction...
Saluting Our Country's 53 Million Family Caregivers
Family caregivers are our nation’s unsung heroes. Our government estimates the care and support they deliver to their loved ones day-in and day-out at an astonishing $600bn annually. Please take a moment to better understand their journey and needs...
Mom, Are You Depressed or Just Unhappy To See Me?
When caring for an elderly loved one, family caregivers need to pay particular attention to changes in their loved one’s lives that have the potential to evolve into depression. Find out what to look for and the steps to take to ensure if depression begins how to quickly and effectively address it...
Hold the Phone, or Maybe Not!
Reaching for our smart phone can become an automatic reflex that can take up more hours than you could think possible. Learn to become more phone efficient and gain time for you…
Your Loved One's Mealtimes Matter!
When our loved ones live in an Assisted Living residence we do everything we can to make sure they are safe and receive very good overall care. However, sometimes it is easy to miss how much joy they can find in day-to-day activities such as uplifting mealtimes. If this is not happening learn what you can do to help…
Assisted Living with Purpose
If Assisted Living is a good direction for your loved one, there are many factors to consider before making the final choice. Remember, this will become your loved one’s home so you want to select an Assisted Living facility that in addition to strong medical care and safety delivers a rich environment for socialization and personal growth. Learn some of the important factors to consider during your selection process…
The Power of a Pause
As family caregivers, it is so easy to let things snowball and quickly become overwhelmed. This is not a criticism but just a fact when dealing with so many elements not in your control. Learn about three special insights that will help you better manage these situations, especially during high stress times...
Just Do Good Stuff Today
It seems we are always in a hurry… I am sure you have experienced this to the point where you don’t even see the people around you. Learn how to interrupt this and experience the emotional and physical benefits that result when you take the time to extend a hand to others….
Disrupting Limiting Beliefs
Whether we know it or not, we all have Limiting Beliefs and most of them are established without our even realizing it. The important thing, especially when they begin to usurp your joy, is to address them!
Learn about my journey to head off a very Limiting Belief...
The Inside Out of Happiness
We can all struggle in our desire to find happiness, which can be a bit different for each of us. And, finding what makes YOU happy is solely your choice. Learn about a daily, easy exercise that can serve as a path to a happier and more meaningful life...
Finding the Write Mindset
As family caregivers, sometimes the best support tools are write in front of us. No, that is not a typo!
Learn about this wonderful tool that will support you and can even become a good companion. I guarantee it is right at your fingertips, available 24/7 and doesn’t ever judge you. Discover this wonderful resource and the many benefits it provides...
Lessons Learned from a Family Caregiver’s Journey
A family caregiver’s journey is anything but predictable. And, if you are fortunate and open, you will learn practices needed to provide the best care possible while ensuring you care for yourself. Learn from a family caregiver’s experience for the best steps to deliver on this promise…
Personal Choice Delivers
Everyday, we have the opportunity to make personal choices that can make our life more gratifying. This is not an exercise in the power of positive thinking. However, it is about awareness and the meaning we place on what is going on in our daily lives. Please take a moment to better understand the power your personal choice can deliver…
Choose Happiness!!
Happiness can be a personal choice and mean different things to different people. For some, happiness is a result of personal satisfaction. For others, it comes from a feeling of gratitude by appreciating what they have rather than what they lack. Others find happiness through a sense of inner joy. Learn six basic daily practices that will help you achieve happiness in your life today…
Thrive in the NOW
Our days are both unpredictable and hectic. Unfortunately, these are ideal conditions to live a life in a whirlwind of reactions, experiencing a lot but acknowledging and embracing little.
Take a quick inventory of how you currently navigate through your day. Now, incorporate the suggested mindfulness-focused thoughts to help live each day more fully…
The Power of Expectancy
Family caregivers experience many uncertainties on a daily basis. When this happens, it is easy to feel you have little if any control in your life. A consequence of this type thinking is easily slipping into a negative mindset, which can cloud much of your thinking and certainly diminish a belief that you can realize the life you once expected to live.
When this happens, learn the four steps that will quickly help you take control of your life and put you on a more productive path…