Make Caregiving More Rewarding in 2017

By Jason Lewis (strongwell.org)

Whether you’re a professional caregiver or charged with taking care of an elderly loved one, your work is both very taxing and rewarding—or at least it should be. Everyone experiences burnout, and the signs can impact all aspects of your wellness. Preventing burnout is key, but so is recognizing the signs and addressing them right away.

Source: Geralt/Pixabay

The real trick for being a great caregiver is taking steps to make the role more rewarding. Start the New Year right by consciously taking actions to enjoy your role as a caregiver. It’s best to write down your goals, visions and reminders of why you do what you do. The physical act of writing helps imprint the words into your psyche, makes them more real, and numerous studies have shown writing helps make the words a reality.

Need some inspiration?

• Make a list of how caregiving benefits you. It’s easy to tick off why and how caregiving benefits the patient, but you’re getting something out of the relationship, too! If it’s a personal caregiving situation, you get the opportunity to spend more quality time learning about a loved one. If you’re a professional caregiver, you’re being introduced to some incredible people who have a lifetime of experience to share. Aim to make your caregiving relationship a symbiotic one. Don’t just go through the motions, but be present at every encounter.
  

 

• Reflect on what you’ve learned so far from your patient. If you take time to think about what they’ve taught you, you’ll likely be amazed at that lengthy list. Maybe they’ve shared memories you’ve forgotten or weren’t present to digest the first time around. Have they taught you about their favorite hobby or shared a skill with you? Do you consider yourself a better listener or able to see issues with a different lens because of your conversations? Every person you encounter has the ability to change you for the better—and your encounters in caregiving are much more complex than most.
  

 

• Keep track of how you make a difference. It’s possible this person wouldn’t be able to go on their weekly shopping trips, get ready for their grandchild’s wedding, or enjoy a clean home if it wasn’t for you. Would they forget to take medication, miss out on key social interactions, or be unable to keep a beloved pet if not for your caregiving and presence? Both tangible and intangible results matter a great deal. When keeping track, try to keep a balance of both.

 

• Practice active listening. There’s a big difference between listening for understanding and simply waiting for your turn to talk. However, genuine active listening is a skill that must be practiced throughout life. It rarely comes naturally. One approach, if you’re both up for it, is laying down with eyes closed while one person talks and the other person simply listens. There’s no pressure to give verbal or nonverbal cues that you’re paying attention. Set a timer between two and five minutes. When the person is done speaking, they thank the listener and that can be the end of the session. It sounds simple, but it’s incredibly powerful.

 

• Embrace gratitude. Get back to basics and consciously be thankful for this relationship. Say thank you when appropriate, and try some cognitive restructuring on days when you’re struggling to understand. Self-talk is at the core of self-efficacy and how you see the world. Talk kindly to yourself, to others, and look for those silver linings.

Caregiving, by nature, can be one of the most rewarding careers or roles you’ll ever have. Be grateful for it, even when it’s not easy. Your mindset, and how you approach your tasks on a daily basis, is important. Our brains are very good at making our internal thoughts a reality, so make those thoughts positive.