Years ago I incorporated “Meatless
Monday” into my weekly routine. I am not a vegetarian, but I thought it was a
good idea to cut back on meat, better for my health and the environment, and
when I heard about Meatless Monday, I liked it and adopted it. I propose
Caregivers adopt “Me-Mondays.” Nope you don’t get Monday off. Sorry! (Well,
unless you find someone to cover for you –which you can do if you ask for
help). However, I suggest that you kick-off the week with a plan to incorporate
something nice for yourself into your week. You can do it! Today’s post sounds
like some of my other posts, but I feel so strongly that Caregivers need to
work hard to keep their identity, remember what they like to do and enjoy, that
I will repeat this over and over, to encourage you to actually do it. These can
be small – like reading a blog, surfing the Internet, reading the paper, a
book, a magazine even. How about a book club? How about hosting a book club?
You can go bigger, like taking an hour for a favorite tv show, or a few hours
for a movie on cable (or even go to the movies! Wouldn’t that be lovely?!). If
you have more flexibility maybe you can meet a friend for lunch or dinner.
Maybe you can go play poker or to go to a local casino. Can you find a way to
get out? How about going to the gym, taking an exercise class (Zumba!), get a
personal trainer and make it a set time. Plan it and do it. Make it happen. It
is the best thing you can do to relieve some stress and get rid of tension. It
will be something for you to look forward to doing. This should not be a
one-and-done thing. Weekly there has to be sometime for you.
If you can find a way to
incorporate your loved one into your Me-time, that is great too! Gramps was in
a wheel chair and I would host coffee nights and have friend, his niece and
whomever was available come over to our home. It was nice for everyone to get
to see each other. It took planning –and I am not just talking about having
nibbles on the table –that was the easy part! Getting Gramps ready, making sure
he was up for it, the “behind the scenes stuff” that Caregivers understand but
no one else sees, was a little more challenging. It was worth whatever effort because
it worked out well and this was a nice treat.
Every Monday plan a little “me-time”
that you will fit in during the week. Give yourself permission to enjoy your
life. Take the time. Find the way. Make it Happen! Happy Me-Monday!
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