The Healthy Caregiver


© Marci Stocks

Being healthy is one of the key roles in caring for yourself and for your loved one. Caregivers may not take the extra time to care for themselves due to time constraints, lack of support, and/or money issues. This article will focus on how you, the caregiver, can care for yourself even if you do have obstacles in your way. Caregivers want to provide quality care for their loved ones and the best way to do this is by taking care of yourself.

Exercise

Exercising isn't just to keep us in shape or to lose a few unwanted pounds. It is much more that that. Exercise helps give us energy and makes us feel relaxed when we are done. There are many ways to exercise. You can join a club if you have the time and money or you can do exercises in your home. The goal is to make exercise enjoyable and fun for you. Outdoors is also another wonderful place to do exercises. If you are on a tight schedule because of work, look into taking a short walk during your breaks. You don't have to exercise for a long period of time. Anything that you do will help you feel relaxed and energized.

Yoga:

Yoga is wonderful if you are looking to relax. You can either take yoga classes at your local gym or you can purchase yoga videos and do them at home. If you have never done yoga, start with a beginner's tape. You'll be surprised at the parts of your body that actually get a workout from yoga! If you'd like to learn more about yoga and its benefits, please visit the link below:

Yoga | Personal Health Zone

Walking:

Walking is probably one of the most convenient and easiest forms of exercise. If you don't have time, you can walk during lunch breaks, take the dog out, walk around the block, or walk with friends. If your loved one is able to walk, invite them to come along. However, if you find this time to be alone, find time to do it yourself. Alone time is healthy.

Swimming:

This may be difficult if you do not have a pool, whether in your home or in an apartment/condo setting. However, if you do have the chance, it may be something that you really enjoy. Many community centers have pools, so if you are interested, start calling around. Aqua-Aerobics is also wonderful because the water makes it easier to move around. This might be a good exercise for a loved one who cannot do other exercises. If this sounds appealing, do speak to your loved one's physician about an exercise program that you are considering for her/him to do.

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