Healthy Eating

Oct 4, 2007

Caregivers, Take Good-Care of Yourself

10 WAYS TO COPE WITH CAREGIVING
1. GET REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
It’s a good energizer, reduces stress, helps control blood pressure and cholesterol and helps maintain a healthy weight. Start by walking 15 minutes a day, even if it’s just around the yard.
2. EAT HEART-HEALTHY FOODS.
They give you more energy, combat depression and help prevent health problems.
3. TAKE TIME EVERY DAY TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU ENJOY.
Read, listen to music, do crafts, cook—whatever makes you happy and relaxes you.
4. KEEP HUMOR IN YOUR LIFE.
Laughter is good medicine. It quickens the pulse rate, stimulates blood circulation, activates muscles, increases oxygen intake and fosters relaxation. And remember, laughter is contagious!
5. GET OUT ONCE A WEEK.
Go to a coffee shop, attend events in your community or at your house of worship, take a class or visit a friend. Ask for help if your loved one needs constant attention.
6. TREAT DEPRESSION AND STRESS.
Recognize signs and symptoms. When they start to occur, do something about them. Get help. Talk it out. Admit your feelings.
7. TAKE CARE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
Keep your checkbook balanced, work when you need to spend time with friends and family and deep planning for the future.
8. KEEP ALL MEDICAL AND DENTAL APPOINTMENTS.
If you’re sick, you won’t be able to do what you need to do for your loved one. Ask for help when you need to get away and take care of your health.
9. THINK POSITIVE.
Refresh your mind every day. Admit your limitations. Pat yourself on the back for the job you’re doing. If you’re feeling guilty or angry, it’s time to take a break.
10. STAY CONNECTED WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
Don’t isolate yourself. Stay in touch, even if it’s just by phone or online. Talk about something other than your situation and maintain an interest in the world outside your caregiving role.
Source: American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.
Published in Heart Insight - August 2007
Take good care of yourself. The Jesuits believed in keeping their cup full as the best way to enable them to help others.
Poetry is a wonderful source of strength. It can strengthen your soul, gladden your heart and give meaning to the things we do and the reasons for doing them.
My Favorite is:
DESIDERATA
Amid the noise and haste remember the PEACE one finds in SILENCE. Be GRACIOUS in disagreement. CALM in Discord and GENTLE to people of lesser station.
Speak your TRUTH quietly, not loudly. Let caution in your business not blind you to the virtues in others. Whatever LOVE you give make certain it be TRUE. Feigned affection is worse than a curse. Forego the impulse of your YOUTH and take the counsel of your YEARS. Keep interested in your CAREER no matter how humble. Nurture your SPIRIT for sudden misfortune, fatigue and loneliness breed FEAR — So, beyond a healthy discipline, be gentle to yourself and keep peace with all persons, above all with your SOUL. You have a RIGHT to belong, no less than the trees. Whatever you conceive GOD to be, be at peace with HIM.
DESPITE of all its drudgery and broken dreams
THIS is still a beautiful WORLD and
HAPPINESS is yours if you strive for it.
FROM TEXT DATED 1692 IN
OLD ST. PAUL’S CHURCH IN BALTIMORE, MD.

In spite of all I say, remember humans are not perfect. So if you do not meet your own standards every day — remember to forgive yourself, and try to do better tomorrow.
A beloved friend and a member of the original foursome in tennis always finished her conversation by saying, "Have a nice day and an even better tomorrow." Liz Murray
Stan Kent
stanbcgb@roadrunner.com

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