Balancing Caregiving & Personal Life: Tips from a Therapist for Young Caregivers
Being a young caregiver often means struggling between caring for your loved-one and investing time into your personal life. You are constantly trying to find ways to strike a balance. So, how do you do that? Discover how MK Counselling and Psychotherapy can help young caregivers like you in young caregiver counselling in Toronto, ON!
Get Curious about Your Specific Stress Symptoms and Triggers
In previous posts, I’ve spoken about how important it is to reflect on your own experiences with caregiving stress, what it looks like for you, and some initial steps you can start taking to reduce some of this stress to avoid burnout. Being mindful of our own capacity for stress, what activities might add to our stress load, and finding ways to take things off our plate (if possible) is an important aspect of finding balance.
Stress symptom identification can help us pinpoint the areas where we might need to step back. Maybe even take a break or ask for support. Your role as a caregiver is an important one! It’s also necessary to invest in other aspects of yourself whenever possible.
Mapping Your Energy-Givers
Beyond figuring out what you can take off your plate, it’s also important to figure out what you can “add-in”.
Take a moment and reflect on the categories below to explore what kind of activities give you a sense of calm, and connectedness. As well as what provides you with energy in your day-to-day life. (For even more ideas, take a look at some Self-care Ideas for Young Adults here).
What nourishes my physical well-being? (reflect on your diet, exercise, and hygiene practices that give you energy rather than deplete it).
What tends to my emotional needs? (think about what helps you identify and process your emotions like journaling or a meditation practice)
What stimulates my intellectual curiosity? (what do you find stimulates you intellectually and helps you focus on other issues or topics outside of your caregiving role? This could be reading, connecting with others who have similar academic or social interests, or engaging in political action).
What allows me to express my creativity? (think of ways you like you create, maybe it’s musically, creative writing practices, doing crafts, etc.)
What or who meets my social needs? (who are the people you spend time with that when you leave, you feel energized? This could be an individual, a group, or a cultural community that enhances your sense of connectedness).
What fuels my spirit? (think of spiritual or religious practices that you’ve found to help you connect with your community, a greater power, your intuition, or nature).
Integrate SMART goals and figure out what works for you!
Integrating change is hard and can certainly feel overwhelming. This is especially true when you’re a young caregiver being pulled in a million different directions already. That’s why I suggest picking one of these energy givers that you’ve identified and getting really specific about how you want to integrate it into your life.
Let’s say you feel really drawn to the idea of integrating more physical movement as part of your weekly routine. Here is an example of using the SMART method to define this goal:
S- Specific:
“I am going to make walking a part of my weekly routine.”
M- Measurable:
“I am going to walk for 15 minutes for three mornings each week, preferably Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.”
A- Attainable:
“I am aiming for 3 days a week as I know that daily walks are not realistic for my academic and caregiving schedule right now. I am going to use my neighbourhood as the location for my walk because it’s accessible to me, and I don’t have to spend a long time away from my loved one.”
R- Relevant:
“I know that gentle movement will help alleviate some aches I’ve been experiencing from physical caregiving and long hours studying. It will also give me a short mental break from the house and give me a chance to reflect on how I am feeling, which can help enhance my emotional wellbeing.”
T- Time-bound:
“I am going to use my watch to time my walks and set calendar reminders on each of these days. I am going to work on this goal for 3 weeks and then check in on how it’s helped me.”
Seeking Professional Support Can Help You Stay on Track
Finding balance in your life as a young caregiver is complex and unique to you. That’s why building rapport with the right young caregiver therapist can be so helpful in exploring what works specifically for you. If you’re ready to start a therapy journey that respects your unique experience as a caregiver, book your free 15-minute consultation today.
Begin Young Caregiver Counselling in Toronto, ON Today!
Are you a young caregiver feeling the weight of balancing caregiving responsibilities with your personal life? It's time to find your balance and reclaim your well-being! Empower yourself with practical tips, coping strategies, and expert advice from a young caregiver therapist in Toronto, ON. Take the first step toward thriving!
Learn more about young caregiver counselling.
Balance the tasks of caregiving and your personal life with stress!
Other Services I Offer As A Stress Therapist in Toronto, ON:
I offer customized services at Michelle Kent Counselling and Psychotherapy to meet your unique needs. I empathize with the demands of work life and am dedicated to helping you navigate and overcome stress. In addition to young caregiver therapy, I offer stress and burnout therapy, grief counselling, and more.
