People who care for others perform invaluable support to those in need, but they also need to take care of themselves. Let’s break down why CDPAP caregivers should practice self-care and how they can ensure their mental, physical, and psychological wellness.
What is Self-Care?
According to the World Health Organization or WHO, self-care is “the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider”. In other words, it’s taking care of yourself physically and mentally.
Self-care is a vital process of any wellness routine and it’s something we all need to work on. But caregivers often forget to practice self-care on themselves. They spend so much time caring for others that they neglect their own mental or physical needs.
Such neglect could lead to issues later down the road. Ultimately, self-care is just as important for caregivers as it is for others.
Why is Self-Care so Important to CDPAP Caregivers?
CDPAP or Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program caregivers are those chosen by their patients for their skills, bedside manner, or other reasons. When you’re chosen as a CDPAP caregiver, you take on a massive responsibility for your patients.
But even the most skilled and dedicated caregivers are still human. Many CDPAP caregivers are at risk for mental health issues, either due to the stresses of their jobs or other factors.
Self-care is crucial because it:
● Prevents caregivers from experiencing burnout, which may decrease the quality of their caregiving work
● Provides caregivers with a better quality of life. Professional caregivers arguably deserve a high quality of life more than most!
● This may also help caregivers perform their jobs better. In a way, self-care for caregivers helps everyone, including their patients!
Because self-care is so important for caregivers, it’s a good idea to learn how to write a self-care plan and follow its advice if you’re a professional CDPAP or other caregiver.
How to Write a Self-Care Plan
Not sure where to start? Let’s break down how you can write and follow through with a self-care plan in detail. Each phase of the self-care plan will focus on different elements of wellness, including your professional life, your physical needs, your mental health, and more.
Workplace or Professional Self-Care
Workplace or professional self-care involves taking care of yourself while at work, especially if you are caring for others. There are many ways you can achieve professional self-care, including but not limited to:
● Being supervised by a more experienced colleague if you are still learning the ropes of caregiving
● Maintaining a peer support group, which may help you vent after the day or get advice for professional work problems
● Always keep a strict boundary between your clients and/or students and other staff members. Don’t let this line blur, as it can complicate your emotional relationships
● Read professional journals to get further insights and advice into your profession, as well as to help yourself solve complex workplace problems
● If needed, you can attend professional development programs. These may grow your skills and help you feel more confident in your profession
● Attend a support group or clinic if necessary. Caring for others often imposes an emotional tax. Support groups can provide professional yet caring support and help you get through difficult days or weeks
Workplace self-care is important, but so is physical self-care both in and out of the workplace.
Physical Self-Care
Physical self-care involves taking care of your body. Your mind and emotions are highly affected by how your body feels, so you can and should care for it in the following ways:
● Always stick to a regular sleep routine by going to bed at the same time each night. Be sure to get between seven and eight hours of sleep each night so your body can rest from the day’s activities
● Try to eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and healthy carbs. You are what you eat, and your diet will give you the energy you need to succeed without putting on extra weight
● Take regular lunch breaks so you don’t go hungry and so you can give your body a break from walking around
● If you have the energy, consider taking a walk at lunchtime to revitalize your body and mind
● Don’t let sick leave days pile up. Take time off if you are unwell
● You should also use your vacation time. Go for a spa day or treat yourself from time to time like you deserve
● Additionally, start and stick to an exercise routine either before or after work. You’ll feel better as you become more fit and burn off stress
Psychological or mental self-care is just as important as physical self-care.
Psychological Self-Care
Mental health is crucial, so you should practice psychological self-care by:
● Keeping a reflective journal
● Engaging with fun, non-work hobbies for recreation
● Giving yourself plenty of time to relax and engage with your friends and family members
● Turning off your work phone or email outside work hours so you aren’t bugged by work concerns when you are relaxing
Emotional self-care should be considered in addition to the above advice.
Emotional Self-Care
You can keep yourself emotionally stable and optimistic by:
● Developing and maintaining friendships you can rely on
● Playing sports or doing other activities with people you like
● Doing things with people you enjoy, like going to the movies
● Keeping up with your friends, parents, and other important people
● Talking to your friends regularly and venting if need be
● Having alone time if you are an introvert
You also can’t forget spiritual self-care.
Spiritual Self-Care
Spiritual self-care will ensure that you always feel grounded and centered, even in chaotic environments. You can practice spiritual self-care by:
● Doing yoga or other meditative practices
● Doing on long walks
● Reflecting with close friends or family members for emotional support
● Doing to church or to a mosque or temple depending on your religion
Ultimately, practicing self-care is vital if you want to do your best as a caregiver and avoid burnout. Following the tips above will help you maintain a good self-care routine for years to come!