Start 2023 ensuring you take care of your dad and also yourself. You cannot ignore your need for self-care. Your dad relies on you too much. Here are the habits you need to embrace in 2023.
Always Focus on Self-Care
Self-care is the act of taking care of your emotional, mental, and physical health. It’s common for family caregivers to focus on their parents, children, spouse, and other family members and lose sight of their own needs.
Always make self-care your priority. You cannot run on empty. It doesn’t work. If you have burned out, you become useless to your dad. You have to take care of yourself first and then he is next.
Eat Healthy Foods
As much time as it saves, don’t rely on takeout meals and fast food at the end of a busy day. Your body needs the right nutrients to function well. If you must do takeout, look for restaurants that will reduce the sodium levels in foods they make for you. Whole grains, seafood, and vegetables are important.
You can save time at home by preparing food once a week and having them ready to go. Dice onions at once and store them in the fridge until needed. Marinade meats after trimming off the fat and slicing or fileting them. Move them to the freezer to soak up the marinade until that item is needed.
Get Daily Exercise
Each day, you want to exercise for at least 30 minutes. Take a walk at a brisk pace outside or on a treadmill, ride a bike, or go swimming. If you can spend some time exercising outdoors in the sun, it’s better for your mental health.
Embrace Downtime
What is your usual routine? You’re at work for eight hours, and you go to your dad’s home and help him with dinner and dishes, which takes up a couple of hours. You get home at 7 p.m. and need to feed your kids, walk your dog, and tidy up. After helping with homework, you’re exhausted.
You don’t have much downtime, and it’s time for that to change. You need to make sure you have downtime and make sure it’s focused solely on things you enjoy. You like to do puzzles, so spend an hour doing a puzzle. If you love to read, head to a quiet spot and read for an hour.
It doesn’t matter what your preferred downtime activity is. You need to make sure you’re spending time on your own doing something you enjoy.
Don’t Feel Guilty Arranging Home Care Services to Help Him
Have a conversation with a senior home care specialist. Learn more about the services your dad can use to have the help he needs with IADLs and ADLs. That gives you the chance to focus on yourself.
Senior home care services are customized to your dad’s needs. Learn more by asking an advisor about home care, prices, and schedules.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Home Care in Los Angeles, CA please contact the caring staff at Alpha Care today. Call 888-740-7023
Alpha Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Palos Verdes, Culver City, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Lynwood, Rolling Hills, Malibu, Glendale, and the surrounding areas.
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