Top Time Management Tips for Caregivers
Implementing practical time management tips for caregivers helps the day run smoothly.
If today’s to-dos look like a lot more than you can possibly squeeze into 24 short hours, you’re not alone! Family caregivers are frequently inundated with daily care tasks: Housework and laundry. Personal care and hygiene. Planning activities that are purposeful and enjoyable for the senior. Planning and preparing meals. Shopping and other errands. Medical appointments. And all of this is on top of meeting the requirements of your own spouse, children, household, and if there’s any time left over, yourself!
We invite you to hit the pause button for just a moment, take a deep breath, and put into action these tried-and-true time management tips for caregviers to greatly help each day run more smoothly.
Prioritize
Start the day off by prioritizing tasks into categories, such as what must be done today, what you’d like to complete today, and what can wait until another day. This enables you to devote your full focus on the most urgent needs and set aside the rest.
Define
With your list of projects for the day at hand, choose who is most suitable to take care of them. Maybe you are the best person to aid the older adult with showering and getting ready for the day, while a neighbor might be able to take the older adult to the physician and out for lunch afterwards.
Implement
The temptation to put things off may be a strong one to overcome! Now that you have a plan set up for the day, jump in and complete the tasks that need your attention. Nevertheless, bear in mind that self-care should always be a high priority. Surround yourself with a strong support system that allows you enough time away to make sure your own health is not being compromised.
Through all of it, remind yourself that the work you’re doing is incredibly important. It is very easy to get caught up with the daily details and lose sight of the big picture and the fact that all you do for the senior you love is producing a lasting and positive impact.
With that in mind, allow yourself some grace on the days when things don’t go as scheduled, as will undoubtedly end up being the case every once in a while! When a setback or crisis arises and your to-dos are left undone, know that tomorrow is a brand new day and the tasks are going to be there whenever you’re prepared to handle them again.
CareWorks Health Services’ caregivers are experienced, fully trained, and ready to help you in meeting each one of a senior family member’s needs – giving you the time away you’ll need for a healthy and balanced life. Call us at (949) 859-4700 for a free in-home consultation and to learn more about our in-home care in Huntington Beach and the surrounding communities.