| According to a MetLife Study, the three hardest | | | | relaxed and refreshed. There are scores of books |
| problems for caregivers are finding time for | | | | on proper eating. Pick an approach that works for |
| oneself, balancing work and family responsibilities, | | | | you and stick with it. Intense caregiving is not the |
| as well as balancing physical and emotional stress. | | | | time to give in to junk food. |
| If you are a small business or solo entrepreneur | | | | 6. GET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER. |
| who also is taking care of an aging or ill parent, | | | | Feng Shui is the art and science of placement. |
| then you have the perfect set-up for your own | | | | The basic premise is that our home is a mirror, a |
| illness, unless you take the proper time to care | | | | metaphor for our lives. If you're saddled with a |
| for yourself, as well. | | | | cluttered home, then it actually weighs on your |
| As a wellness consultant and | | | | subconscious, making it difficult to feel truly |
| entrepreneur-caregiver myself, the following are | | | | relaxed. |
| my top 10 tips for relaxation which also work | | | | 7. CH'I ENHANCERS. |
| across the board for anyone involved in care | | | | Surround yourself with ch'i enhancers. Ch'i means |
| giving activities. Choose at least three that you | | | | life energy in Chinese. Ch'i enhancers are those |
| can incorporate into your life on a regular basis. | | | | things that make us feel relaxed, happy, and |
| 1. BE GRATEFUL EACH DAY. | | | | peaceful. Wind chimes, water fountains, soft |
| Look at the news and you know that life is not | | | | music, and fragrance are all wonderful examples |
| promised to us. Just waking up knowing that the | | | | of the enhancers. Pets represent one of the |
| day literally is the beginning of the rest of our | | | | all-time ch'i enhancers and work wonders for both |
| lives should give us a pause and make us joyous | | | | the caregiver and the person being take care of. |
| to be alive. There is something to be said for an | | | | With their innocent faces and happy hearts, pets |
| "attitude of gratitude" even in the midst of your | | | | can uplift us when everything else goes kerplunk. |
| care giving duties. | | | | 8. CH'I LEADERS. |
| 2. STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES. | | | | Ch'i leaders are our own cheerleaders. Surround |
| Often when I find myself in a frenetic pace, I | | | | yourself with positive people who support and |
| simply stop and remind myself that there is no | | | | energize you. Toxic people will only drain your |
| need to get into a tizzy about whatever I am | | | | energy, making it hard for you to go about life |
| trying to accomplish. Sometimes peace of mind is | | | | ever feeling relaxed. Learn how not to give away |
| better than running around like a chicken with its | | | | your personal power to noxious people. |
| head cut off. The sun and moon will always rise -- | | | | 9. EXERCISE. |
| at their own pace. | | | | Get the blood flowing. Volumes have been writing |
| 3. A GOOD NIGHT'S REST. | | | | about the benefits of exercise. The net of it is |
| For most people seven to eight hours of sleep is | | | | that we actually increase our capacity to go about |
| ideal. Of course, some people can function well | | | | our daily chores by exercising, and therefore feel |
| with fewer hours depending upon their makeup. | | | | less stressed. When we have accomplished our |
| The key thing is to know when you clearly aren't | | | | tasks in a timely and fit fashion, it is a lot easier |
| getting enough and to make adjustments. Sleep is | | | | to feel relaxed. With care giving there always are |
| the time that our bodies use to rejuvenate itself. | | | | lots of things to be done! |
| It is hard to feel relaxed when we're exhausted | | | | 10. MEDITATE AND PRAY. |
| from a lack of sleep. Proper sleep is CRITICAL | | | | Silence is indeed golden. Sometimes we become |
| for the caregiver. | | | | hyped up over a problem simply because we |
| 4. THE ART OF THE BATH. | | | | haven't taken the time to be quiet and still. It's |
| Taking a good bath has given way to the quick | | | | amazing the answers I get when I stop and turn |
| shower for many people. But nothing can beat a | | | | off the inner chatter. And no matter what your |
| long, hot soak for the ultimate in quiet time, | | | | religious belief, praying to a higher power can |
| reflection, and relaxation. Light some candles, | | | | certainly take the stress out of a situation and |
| diffuse some essential oils, put on some relaxing | | | | make us breathe a sigh of relief knowing that it |
| music and simply go "ahhhhh." | | | | will turn out for the best in the end. Reflexology, |
| 5. FOOD FOR FUEL. | | | | massage, and healing touch are excellent ways to |
| You are what you eat. Garbage in. Garbage out. | | | | get into a deep meditation. As a caregiver you |
| Plug yourself with junk and non-nutrient rich food | | | | simply MUST find some quiet time for yourself. |
| and it is going to be hard to feel 100%, let alone | | | | © 2007 Paula Quick. |