Episode 76:  How planning can reduce caregiver stress

You may need to step up your organization skills now that you are a caregiver.  

As caregivers, we want to be there for our loved ones.  We do our best to schedule all the appointments and their needs the best we can.   

As caregivers we also feel that our priorities should be last or are not as important as our loved ones.  You and I may also feel torn - we have major projects at work or are up for a new promotion and now we have to balance caregiving.  Or, you feel guilty for wanting to pursue your passions and you now have caregiving added.  But if we try to balance it all….  What’s going to happen?   Stress, burnout , fatigue, plus a whole lot of other emotions.     

There are 4 phases I want to share with you when you are starting to organize your caregiver life.  

• All in Phase  
• Just get by Phase
• Eyes Wide Open Phase
• Stop and Sustain Phase

When you realize you are in that phase where you know things have to change - I want you to celebrate you and embrace that you are focusing on yourself.  There is a percentage of caregivers that will never get to this point.  

You have to decide what your priorities are right now.    

• Your first priority should be you  - I know it sounds uncomfortable but you need to schedule that time in right now.   Is there a day of the week you are putting an X through and that’s your time.   Or are mornings blocked      You have to be fueled and ready to go.  
• Then circle or highlight the places where you will be stretched, stressed or pressured.  You can’t be in two places at one time or if things are too close together or back to back.     List out what you can do to resolved it or reduce the stress.   
• Then think through all your daily responsibilities, routines for that week  - is there anything that can come off your schedule or you can outsource or say no to.     What can you do to make life easier for a busy week? 

When it comes to a busy caregiving life, you have to step up your organization and management game.   I actually set aside one hour a week (usually Sunday evenings to plan).   Being proactive can save you a lot of stress and make you feel better about your decision to put yourself first.   Thinking like a manager and CEO of your life is key.   

So I want you to try this going forward.   Take a moment at the end of your week  - maybe Saturday or Sunday and plan the next week ahead.  You will thank yourself for a bit of organization and details. 

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