Caregivers can get a lot of frustrating advice from people who mean well. One such piece of advice might be for you to “do your best” on your caregiving journey. Understanding what that means for you can take some time.
It Can Mean a Lot of Different Things
This can be a frustrating statement to a lot of caregivers because it can have so many definitions for so many different people. One day, doing your best could be just getting out of bed and making sure that your loved one is doing alright. Other days, you might be doing a lot better and therefore you’re able to do more. There’s no one hard and fast rule for what doing your best encompasses.
It’s up to You, Really
What it really comes down to is that you’re the only one who can say what doing your best means on your caregiving journey because you’re the one in the trenches. If you’re letting other people determine what your best is, it’s possible that they’re using incorrect information to make that judgment.
Don’t Set the Bar Too High
You do need to be realistic with yourself. If you’re setting the bar impossibly high, you’re going to miss the next step on the ladder now and again. That can lead to you feeling down about what you’re not able to do and that brings more trouble. It’s okay to have high expectations of yourself. Just make sure they’re not too high.
Avoid Sacrificing Self-care
Many family caregivers decide that they have to give up certain things in their own lives in order to feel as if they’re doing more or better while caregiving. That doesn’t have to be the case. Your own self-care plan is going to keep you in top form so that you’re able to consistently give your best to your loved one. Hire some elderly care providers and take some time away to map out your self-care plan if you haven’t already. Then stick to it.
While it’s true that only you can decide what “do your best” means on your caregiving journey, you also have to avoid being too hard on yourself.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Tustin, CA, please contact the caring staff at Canaan Home Care today! 1-844-CANAAN-1 (1-844-226-2261)
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