What Can You Do Right Now to Relieve a Little Bit of Stress?
Stress is a common problem for caregivers, but it’s not always easy to know how you can burn off a little stress in a very short period of time. Some of these activities might be perfect for you.
Make a List of How Awesome You Are
When you’re a stressed-out caregiver, you’re probably thinking negative thoughts. Some of those thoughts might even be about you. So grab a piece of paper and set a timer for five minutes. In that five minutes, write down all the ways you’re awesome. It might sound or feel silly, but at the end of that five minutes, reread your list. You do awesome things every day and you need to remind yourself of that.
Do Something Nice for Someone Else
Stress can make you focus inward, which isn’t always a good situation. One way you can quickly get yourself focused outward is to take a few minutes and do something nice for someone else. Maybe that means you go out to get your mail and take your neighbor’s mail to her as well. Or perhaps you make a quick phone call to thank someone for helping you in the past. Find some way to make someone else’s day.
Jog in Place Outside
Sometimes stress leaves you with weird energy bumping through you that you can’t do anything practical about. Take a step outside and give yourself a minute or two to jog in place. Really get your knees high and pump your arms. You’ll get your blood moving and you’ll do something with that excess energy.
Tackle the Dishes
Washing the dishes isn’t a whole lot of fun, of course, but this can work. First of all, this is one of those chores that nags at you even if you aren’t actively thinking about it. Second, washing dishes or emptying the dishwasher occupies your hands and gives your brain permission to venture elsewhere. You’re getting something done that has to get done and you can lose yourself in the task for a few minutes.
Make Something
If you like crafts or making things, you can do a little bit in a few minutes here and there. Take up crochet or add a little bit of paint to a piece of art you’ve been making in random bits of time. Before you know it, you’ll have a finished project and you aren’t trying to figure out how to spend an hour at a time creating art.
Think of some other things that you can do in a few minutes or less that can help you to get out of the mindset you’re in right then. The activity doesn’t have to be big or complicated, it just needs to put you in a different space for a couple of minutes.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Homecare in Loveland, OH, please contact the caring staff at Queen City Elder Care today. Serving Cincinnati and Surrounding Communities. Call Us Today (513) 510-4410.
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