I have a very sick child at the moment and am looking ahead to a long season of care giving. Like any parent I would do anything for my child but we all know that the caregiver can suffer burnout and self-care is a necessity. Just a few words on that:

Self-care is not selfish. It’s a bit like the oxygen masks that drop down in the airplane…you know how the flight attendant says “fit your own mask before helping anyone else”? You cannot be any good to anyone if you run yourself into the ground. The foundation of self-care, as I see it, is focussed on three things:

Take a break. Plan in 30 minutes for yourself, do something pampering, take a short walk in nature, visit with or telephone friends, find laughter,

Take care of your health. Eat well (especially those fruits and veg!), consider a multi-purpose supplement and adrenal support, exercise, and above all, get some sleep.

Practice acceptance. Focus on things you can control, look for the silver lining, practice mindfulness to make sure you enjoy the here and now as much as possible.

And don’t be afraid to ask for help – we all need it.

If you have tips you’d like to share or anything that has been especially helpful for you then get in touch! Thanks.