What Can You Do When You Suddenly Have Time to Yourself?

The idea of time to yourself might be a foreign one for you if you’re a caregiver. But it doesn’t have to be and even more importantly, you should be taking time just for you.

When Did You Last See Your Doctor?

Caregiver Perry GA - What Can You Do When You Suddenly Have Time to Yourself?
Caregiver Perry GA – What Can You Do When You Suddenly Have Time to Yourself?

You’re in good company with a lot of caregivers if it’s been a while since you took the time to visit your own doctor about your health issues. This isn’t necessarily a fun way to spend time that you have to yourself, but if you’re having trouble with guilt and feeling as if you have to be productive with any time you take, then this is a worthy way to spend that time.

Get Out in Nature, Even a Little Bit

Being out in nature, even if it’s a park in the middle of a busy city, can do so much for you. Spend a little bit of time out in the sun enjoying green surroundings. Watch some pigeons or squirrels fight over nuts and seeds. Just be for a little while out in a natural area. It will do you a lot of good.

Go Do Nothing for a While

Contrary to what a lot of people believe, you don’t really have to do anything with your spare time. You can literally do nothing, especially if you haven’t taken any time for you in a long time. You need to have some time to decompress, even if the form that takes for you is to just do nothing at all for a little while.

Read or Watch Something for Fun

If doing nothing isn’t your speed, you might want to take advantage of any free time that you have to read or even to watch something that’s just for fun. You don’t need to force yourself to read something that you don’t enjoy or watch only news or educational programs. This is your time and your brain probably needs to feel entertained for a while. Reading or watching something that is pure fun can be incredibly beneficial for you.

Go Be Around People for a While

You’re not completely alone as a caregiver, but you’re also not involved in the same sorts of encounters with people that you might have been in the past. Find a way to spend some time around other people, even if that means going to a coffee shop or a restaurant and just people watching for a bit.

It’s not easy to take time away from caregiving without feeling guilty. When you’ve got solid backup, particularly from home care providers, it’s a lot easier to not only learn to take that time for yourself but to enjoy it. Use these ideas as a jumping-off point to figure out what else you can do that fills up your cup so that you’re ready to get back to caregiving.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering Caregiver Services in Perry GA please contact the caring staff at Angels of Mercy Private Homecare Services, Inc. today at 478-745-5111.

Zandrea Durham