Warm Weather Tips for Easing Caregiver Stress

Caregiver in Riverhead NY

The summer months can be a wonderful time to be a caregiver for your aging parent. The weather has finally gotten away from the rain of spring, the days are longer, and you are inspired to go on adventures and enjoy activities together as a family. They can also be exceptionally stressful. The temperatures can reach staggering numbers, the humidity can feel oppressive, and now that your children are no longer in school even more of your day is spent juggling the care needs of being in the sandwich generation. When this happens you can feel the caregiver stress starting to creep in, diminishing your mental, emotional, and physical health as well as your ability to be the caregiver that your parent needs, the parent your children need, and the person your partner needs. Taking the time to focus on yourself and ease your caregiver stress can enable you to enjoy your summer more while protecting your health and being at your best for everyone who needs you.

Try some of these warm weather tips for easing caregiver stress:

• Stay cool. It may be more easily said than done, but staying cool during the summer months is an important part of keeping your stress under control. It is important to remember that stress does not just occur in the body when you are facing emotional challenges. You also experience stress when your body undergoes physical issues as well. High temperatures and humidity can make your body feel like it is in danger and it can make you feel stress in order to encourage you to slow down, cool off, and protect yourself. Follow that encouragement and take some time to cool off during the day. Sip a cold drink, sit in front of an air conditioner, or take a dip in a pool. Even just running your feet through water can bring your body temperature down and make your body feel healthier.
• Get active. On those super hot days it can seem like the last thing that you want to do is move, much less exercise. Staying physically active, however, is essential to stress management and health. Find activities that do not tax your body and that you can enjoy even when the heat advisories start rolling in. Swimming, water aerobics, exercise classes in an air conditioned gym, and even skating at a year-round indoor ice rink can be cool experiences that are fun for you to enjoy as some alone time to relax your mind, or as an activity with your aging parent, children, or partner.
• Plan a vacation. That chock-full calendar sitting on your desk might make you feel like you will never see a vacation again, but that does not mean that you cannot have fun planning one. They say that half the fun of going on a trip is planning it, and that may actually be the case when it comes to stress relief. Just planning and dreaming about a vacation can reduce your stress and give your mind something pleasant to wander to when you are feeling overwhelmed. If you actually can go on vacation, even for just a few days, that is even better. Give yourself that time away from your routine so that you can reset, relax, and allow your mind to restore.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional caregivers in Riverhead, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.