Caring for a family member can be both rewarding and challenging, especially if your loved one has a serious illness. While family caregivers play crucial roles, it’s equally important for them to look after their own health and happiness. After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup.

So, whether you are a professionally trained carer or are learning the ropes as you go, it’s important to take measures to avoid mental-physical exhaustion.

The first step is to recognise and acknowledge signs of caregiver stress and burnout, as follows:

With that in mind, here are some self-care tips that can help you thrive as a caregiver.

1. Take regular breaks

Allocate time for yourself at least once a day to unwind and have a break. This could be a 10-minute meditation or deep-breathing session in the morning before attending to your loved one; going for a short walk in the evening; or engaging in activities that make you happy and relaxed once your family member has gone to bed.

As long as it makes you feel revitalised, make it part of your personal schedule so that you’re able to keep up with the mental and physical requirements of being a caregiver.

2. Seek help if you have to

No one should feel ashamed or afraid to ask for help. Some people try to do everything on their own, but there are only so many hours in a day and only one of you, and you don’t have an infinite supply of energy.

It can be difficult to ask for help when you already play the role of a helper, but you’ll be surprised how much easier it can be if you share the responsibilities with other family members.

3. Practise healthy coping skills

Your approach to self-care and coping mechanisms will go a long way towards fostering resilience in challenging times. Simple steps include:

• exercising regularly;
• nourishing yourself with a healthy, balanced diet;
• getting a good night’s rest;
• maintaining a social life;
• meditating or listening to guided relaxation tracks or your favourite music;
• setting achievable to-do lists.

4. Build a support system

Remain socially connected even when the days are long and tiring. It can be a struggle to keep social appointments in the face of caretaking, but such interaction is key to feeling less isolated and preventing burnout.

So call your best mate every now and then; schedule dinner with friends or family; or take a stroll in the park with some friends. Not only will your mental health flourish, it will also make life much more enjoyable.

Joining caregiver support groups, which are often offered by hospitals and other local organisations, can also be helpful. Knowing that you’re not alone in your experiences can nurture your ability to be self-compassionate.

5. Set boundaries

It’s also a form of self-care to establish boundaries when it comes to requests or behaviours from the loved one you’re caring for.

Many caregivers are so caught up with readily fulfilling the demands of their loved ones that they neglect their own physical, mental and emotional needs. Boundary setting means clearly and respectfully communicating your expectations and limits.

Recognise when you need to turn down additional tasks or commitments, as overburdening yourself with responsibilities can easily lead to frustration and exhaustion.

This article was written by DOC2US, a mobile application that allows you to talk to a doctor or any healthcare professionals via text chat at any time and from anywhere.