Respecting Respite

Caregivers are recognized for the care they provide to others; however, they often overlook their own self-care in the process. Perhaps a caregiver feels that he/she is too busy to take a break or feels irresponsible for doing so. Taking some personal time is not a selfish act; it is, in fact, crucial for caregivers as a means to maintain their own good emotional, mental and physical health. The question often asked is, "How can you, as a caregiver, effectively and properly take care of a loved one when you fail to effectively and properly take care of yourself?"

Taking a break is called respite. You can do anything during this time, as long it is something you enjoy. This will be your own personal "me" time. Respite breaks do not have to be long or expensive ... here are three quick ideas:

Go for a Walk: There is nothing like fresh air and exercise to clear one's head. You don't even have to have a destination in-mind. By all means, do not use inclement weather as an excuse to not get outside. Walking has to be one of the simplest and most cost-effective means of exercise ... all you need is a good pair of shoes and you are ready to go.

Get Together with Friends: Note that I said "friends" here and not "family". Should you socialize with your family, the topic of conversation could easily swing back to parental issues. You will want to avoid this. Whatever you speak of with friends, make sure you dialogue about anything but your own caregiving responsibilities.

Read: Do not read up on your parent's health condition. Instead, choose your own favourite author or genre. When I was seeking respite time during my caregiving years, I always enjoyed curling in in my favourite coffee shop and reading the daily newspaper.

As you can see, planning respite breaks is not difficult. In fact, the easier you make your own respite time, the easier it will be to commit to this. Take an hour - regularly - for yourself. You will return to caregiving less stressed and far happier. Once again, taking time for you is not a selfish act.