These time management tips can help busy family caregivers feel more organized and less rushed.If today’s to-dos seem like more than you are able to possibly squeeze into 24 short hours, you are not alone! Family caregivers in many cases are overloaded with daily care tasks: Planning activities that are purposeful and enjoyable for the senior Planning and preparing meals. Medical appointments. Personal care and hygiene. Housework and laundry. Shopping and other errands. 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 minute, take a deep breath, and put into action these tried-and-true time management pointers to help every day run more smoothly.
Prioritize
Start the day by prioritizing duties into categories, for example, what must be done today, what you would like to complete today, and what can wait until another day. This permits you to devote your full focus on the most pressing needs and set aside the rest.
Define
With your list of tasks for the day at your fingertips, determine who is best suited to take care of them. You may be the best person to aid the senior loved one with showering and getting ready for the day, while a friend may be able to take the older adult to the doctor and out for lunch afterwards.
Implement
The urge to put things off can be a strong one to overcome! Now that you have a plan in place for your day, jump in and complete the tasks that require your attention. However, be aware that self-care should always be a top priority. Surround yourself with a powerful support system that enables you enough time away to ensure your own health is never being compromised.
Through all of it, remind yourself that the work you are doing is extremely important. It is very easy to get caught up in the daily details and lose sight of the big picture and the fact that everything you do for the older adult you love is resulting in a positive and lasting impact.
Understanding that, allow yourself some grace on the days when things don’t go as planned, as will certainly end up being the case from time to time! When a crisis or setback arises and your to-dos are left undone, recognize that tomorrow is a brand new day and the tasks are going to be there whenever you’re prepared to deal with them again.
Want more time management tips for busy family caregivers? Home Sweet Home In-Home Care’s experts in Kalamazoo senior care are fully trained, experienced, and ready to assist you in meeting each one of a senior family member’s needs – giving you the time away you need for a healthy and balanced life. Give us a call at (269) 849-9252 for a complimentary in-home consultation to get started and visit our Locations page to learn about all the Michigan communities where we provide care.