Advice for Caregivers: It’s Time to Care for You

We spend a lot of time caring for those we love. We are there to listen. We are there to run errands. We are constantly giving of our time and energy to the ones we love and care about, but what about time for ourselves? That’s where many of us fall short. We give and give, but when do we make time to replenish our own selves? There’s an old saying that we can’t give what we don’t have. If we don’t take the time for ourselves, to restock our own shelves, we may run dry when it comes time to give. The circle of life is in the giving and also the receiving. We absolutely must take time to care for ourselves if we are to be available at our best for the people we love. So now you’ve gotten yourself into a place of give, give, give and you feel run down. You're stressed. You're frazzled, but what can you do? You may not have the time to book a spa getaway, but you can create a mini-spa experience in your own bathroom. With a little imagination and some minor preparation you can escape reality for a little while, replenish your emotional fuel tank and then emerge from your retreat ready to soar! Let’s begin our wonderful new self-care ritual by gathering some materials:

Essential Oils

If you have a favorite bath salt, body wash, and lotion, make sure you have them on hand. Choose a fragrance that feels good to you and puts you in that relaxed frame of mind. Essential oils are a great way to add fragrance and aromatherapy to your bath. Be mindful of your intention when you are deciding on what scents to incorporate into your bath. There may be times when you want to feel super energized after your bath. There might be other times when you want to feel calm and relaxed. Certain scents lend themselves to different mood shifts. Essential oils that help us achieve a state of relaxation include: chamomile, benzoin, bergamot, cedarwood, clary sage, frankincense, geranium, jasmine, lavender, neroli, patchouli, rose, sandalwood and ylang ylang. For a more energizing effect try: basil, clary sage, cypress, eucalyptus, hyssop, nutmeg, oregano, peppermint, pine and rosemary. Always be sure you have no allergies to the oils you choose and simply add 3-15 drops to your bath along with the salts. I like Epsom salt or Himalayan bath salts.

Candles

Candles are nice for mood, if you can burn them safely. The warm glow of candle light automatically triggers a sense of calm in most people. Just dim the lights in the room. Allow the glow of the candle to soften you vision. There’s no need to intently focus on anything at this time. Your focus is on creating a sacred space for you to recharge. If you can’t safely burn a candle, see if you can find a little plug in night light for some soft, dim lighting. Many of us work in bright light all day. By dimming the lights, you can trigger a shift in your awareness and start to let down. 3. Find a time when you will not be disturbed. A little planning is key here. There’s nothing worse than just stepping into a nice soothing bath only to be startled back into the real world by a phone call or screaming child. Set aside 20 minutes or so for yourself. You deserve a little relaxation time. If you have small kids, wait until they're in bed for the evening. If your family is older, tell them this is your time and you should not be disturbed. This is non-negotiable unless the house is burning down or it's a life and death emergency! REMEMBER... you are putting yourself TOP on your own priority list. The world can turn without your help for the next 20 minutes!!

Take a Deep Breath

When you're finished, dry off and take some nice deep breaths. Gently, massage some lotion on your body, put on some comfy, loose clothing or a cozy bathrobe. You’ve just given yourself the gift of time. You’ve made some nice space in your otherwise busy life. Take time to enjoy the relaxed or calmly energized feeling that you’ve fostered. Maybe there’s a nice recording you’d like to listen to or a good book or magazine you’d like to read. Have a nice cup of herbal tea and milk the calm feeling for as long as you can! You deserve this special time reserved just for you. The more you practice pampering yourself, the easier it gets and the more productive you can be in your day to day activities. Studies have shown that we perform better in all our daily tasks and jobs when we are calm and at peace. See if you can’t incorporate a home spa day into your life on a regular basis. Take time for YOU today and every day! By taking time for yourself to really relax and rejuvenate, you are showing yourself the love and care that you naturally give to others. When you love yourself, then the love flows easily to everyone you meet.

Take a Bath and Relax

Now dim the lights, draw your bath and relax. If you have only a shower, fear not, you can still get some relaxing time to yourself. Get the shower going and step in. Use the bath salts to gently exfoliate your body. As you do, imagine the salts gently cleansing away any negativity you've picked up in your travels. Let the salt smooth your skin and the fragrance soothe your mind. Now, use some nice body wash and visualize a crystal white light flowing over your body with the shower water. Let the warmth relax and renew you. In a bath, you can use a similar visualization. Imagine the water as pure, clear, crystalline energy. Allow this to cleanse away any stress, negativity or fears you may be holding onto. Imagine you are bathed in well-being, completely relaxed, calm and protected. Breathe deeply and with each breath you become more and more relaxed. This is your time!