Tips for Handling Caregiver Burnout during the Pandemic
Taking care of your loved one is a gratifying endeavour, but it’s also something equally stressful. And as caregiving is usually a long-term affair, the emotional impact keeps snowballing with time. Gradually, it takes a toll on your relationships, state of mind, and health, which leads to something called caregiver burnout. Today, let’s show you a few ways to keep away feelings of burnout-
#1 Avoid burnouts by feeling empowered
Emotional distress and burnouts stem from the feeling of helplessness, and it’s normal to experience this as a caregiver. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and looking for others to blame. Instead, think of the positive changes caregiving brought in you.
#2 Get the appreciation that you deserve
Feeling appreciated will help you be more accepting of your difficult emotions due to pandemic. Imagine how grateful and happy your loved ones would be if they saw you caring for them like this. You should reward and acknowledge yourself for your effort.
#3 Speak up and ask for assistance
Your family and friends will not automatically know your emotional health with all these duties you’re handling. So, ask for assistance to relieve some of your caregiver stress. You can ask someone to run errands, bring a meal, or watch over the patient for some time.
#4 Give yourself breaks from your duties
Your caregiver duties combined with COVID anxiety can add to your burnout. Thus, you need to set aside some time for your hobbies, such as reading or painting. Also, stay in touch with your friends and share your feelings with them.
#5 Do not neglect your health
COVID-19 and the pandemic are not accessible to anyone. And as a caregiver, everything can become overwhelming to deal with everything. If you are not careful, you can feel too tired and exhausted too soon. So, keep up your doctor visits (pay a visit online on The Wellness Corner app), regular exercise, and take up meditation practices.
Conclusion
Being a pandemic caregiver is one of the hardest challenges to face, and you need to be physically and mentally ready for it. Hopefully, these five tips will come in handy to you in that regard.