Keeping Control as a Warrior Caregiver...

Caregivers need to stay in control.

Often what happens is that we let the ones we are caring for to overtake
our lives and they begin to control our lives. We schedule our lives
around their calendars. Rarely do we even realize that we have allowed
this to happen. It is not until we take inventory of our own lives that
we realize what has happened.

I know how easily that I allowed the ones that I was caring for to control
my life. I would turn down my own activities to accommodate their
schedules. I would plan my day around their lunch hour and their rest
time. I would not allow myself to schedule any family outings without
incorporating in my care giving schedule.

I turned down lunch with friends and drove too fast to get to care facilities
at a specified time. I became stressed when I missed one of the specified
times that I had wanted to attend. I would feel guilty if I missed a supper
hour and would stay late and arrive home very late on a work night to make
up for missing some time with the one I was caring for. Family activities
would be altered or cancelled when the one receiving the care took control.

The ones I was caring for had taken over my schedule and my calendar and I
had allowed it to happen.

Warrior Caregivers remain in control. Remaining in control requires the
following steps:

* Take inventory of your life
* Plan your day around your schedule
* Work care giving into your schedule
* Let go of the stress and the quilt
* Take back control of your life

Warrior Caregivers take inventory of their lives. Taking inventory requires
that they write down their daily schedule for several weeks. Then they score
the results to see if they are in control of their lives or if their calendars
have been overtaken by the ones that they are caring for.

It is this inventory that determines who is in control. Warrior Caregivers
plan their day around their own schedule. They work care giving into their
schedule rather than making it their schedule.

Warrior Caregivers are able to let go of the stress that is associated with
trying to live your life for someone else's schedule. They are also able to
manage the guilt that occurs when missing scheduled times and know that they
do not need to feel guilty for putting their life first.

Warrior Caregivers take back control of their lives by making sure that their
own immediate needs and the needs of other family members are considered prior
to making any plans. They plan family outings and activities around their own
schedule and work care giving into their schedule.

Once you have taken back control of your life and have let go of the stress and
guilt associated with saying no and for putting you first, you will find that you
become stronger and able to take on more as a result. Having control of your life
gives you back the confidence that had gotten lost in the control struggle.

Congratulations for taking back control of your life and for taking another step
to becoming a Warrior Caregiver.

I invite you to come join us in the Warrior Caregiver Community
where we provide a safe platform for support & collaboration.
Click Here





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