Many carers tell us they often experience challenging and difficult feelings such as stress and worry in their caring role. When caring for someone else, it can be hard to switch off and focus on your own health but looking after yourself is important too. Here we have put together six stress busting tips to help you to balance managing stress and looking after your mental health when you are caring for someone.
Six Stress Busting Tips
1. Be active
Finding the time to keep active can be a challenge when you are caring for someone, but physical activity can benefit you in lots of ways. Did you know that physical activity is also beneficial for your mental health and wellbeing?
We should all aim to complete 10,000 steps a day. Whether outside or in the house, walk, jog or run it out depending on your level of fitness. Go for a walk in nature if you can. Look at our 8 tips to keep active when caring for someone to help you get started.
2. Connect with people
Caring can be socially isolating and having a good support network of friends and family can ease your worries and help you to see things from a different perspective, helping you to relax and relieve stress.
Carers First is here to offer you support groups and social events to prevent you from becoming isolated outside of your caring role. Connecting and talking to other people who understand can also be a significant help and be useful for sharing hints and tips around caring. Look at our Local Support page on our range of services, online, by phone and face-to-face in the community.
3. Have some "me time"
Taking some time for yourself can be one of the hardest parts of caring, however taking breaks is fundamental to how resilient you are as a carer and how well you are able to manage in your role in the longer term. To help you to consider what breaks you should be aiming to take and how you can find replacement and respite care, look at our help and advice topic on taking breaks as a carer.
4. Challenge yourself
As a carer it is likely that you have already conquered many challenges that have stood in your way. Setting yourself goals and challenges, whether indoors or outside, such as learning a new language or a new sport, can help you to build confidence and recognise your strengths. If you are interested in starting something new and would like to set yourself a challenge, look at our help and advice topic on getting back into work, volunteering or learning.
5. Try to be positive
Sometimes, it can be hard to stay positive, especially when you are feeling stressed and worried, but positive thinking can help you to better manage stress and can even improve your health. Try to look for the positives in life, and things for which you are grateful for.
To help you to be positive and care confidently, Carers First offer a four-week programme of support through our Caring Confidently Course. The course is designed to help increase resilience, improve wellbeing, and develop knowledge and strategies to enable carers to be more resourceful in their caring role. They are held quarterly and are delivered online and out in the community. Look at our Caring Confidently page to find out more.
6. Eat and sleep well
It can be easy when you are busy caring for someone else to rely on unhealthy, quick convenience foods. We understand that eating healthily can be easier said than done. To make it easier for you, we have put together our best tips on eating well to help you to stay well as a carer.
Carers also often report that they have trouble sleeping. Getting a good night’s sleep can make a world of difference to both your physical and mental health. Sleep boosts your immune system, helps your body to repair itself and allows your mind to de-stress. If you are finding it hard to sleep because you are struggling with the emotional impact of caring, then look at our section on 'Managing difficult emotions as a carer'.
Register with us, or refer a carer to us
Online Help and Advice
Visit our online support section where we have provided advice and guidance on a range of relevant topics to help you in your caring role.