The one difficulty they rarely tell you carers face is not only the challenge such individuals have in looking after a friend or loved one, but that their life doesn’t pause just because of it. While it’s true some people stop working full time to help care for a loved one, they still have responsibilities, they might still need to earn money on the side, and all the administrative effort of life is doubled, not sidelined.
For this reason, you may wonder how you’re going to cope if such responsibilities have impressed upon you. Some can even find this process to be dizzying, and if they don’t balance it with care, may even neglect to offer the kind of care they really want to provide, through no fault of their own.
In this post, we’ll help you thread that impossible needle, by instructing you on how to mange your time while helping a loved one in need. Without further ado, please consider:
Use A Combined Cloud Schedule With Your Relatives
A shared digital calendar is a good tools to use when you’re trying to manage care with other people, like your siblings or partner. Some of these apps are free, and if you find a good one, it’s a central place where everyone can see upcoming doctor’s appointments, when medication is due, or who is supposed to be visiting and when, so you’re not all texting each other constantly just to stay updated.
That also gives you clarity which should stop tasks from being missed and also limit arguments about who was meant to handle what. That’s underrated, especially during an emotionally charged time.
Manage Your Boundaries
You’re going to burn out very quickly if you don’t set some clear boundaries for yourself and your time. It’s okay to say “no” sometimes, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about protecting an evening for yourself to rest and recharge your batteries, especially if you’ve put your fair effort in. Though of course this comes with the caveat of fairness and making sure the person in need of care never goes without. You have to look after your own health, too, or you won’t be any good to anyone.
Ultimately, your loved one needs you to be healthy, not exhausted and resentful from over-giving. Let other people know what you can and can’t do, and be firm about your personal time.
Ask For Help When You Need It
You absolutely cannot do this all on your own, and nobody reasonable expects you to be a superhero 24/7, so you have to reach out for support. Ask your other relatives to take on any more focused and outlined tasks, like picking up prescriptions or sitting with your loved one for a few hours so you can get out of the house for a break.
Moreover, don’t be afraid to use professional respite care, which is designed for this exact situation, or look into specific programs if the needs are getting more complex. Sometimes you need specialized memory care services for example, that can provide expert support you’re not trained for. Asking for help is a sign of strength and good planning, not a sign of failure.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily manage your time even with a loved one in care.
