In 2022, two of the top needs our Care Coaches helped employee caregivers with were mental health and physical health. While caregivers can have many other needs they may prioritize, neglecting to care for one’s well-being can have serious negative effects. In fact, caregivers are more likely to develop mental health problems, and they develop chronic illnesses at twice the rate of their non-caregiver counterparts.
In order to care for our loved ones, we first need to care for ourselves. Check out these tips from Care Coach Renee Mohan, LMSW, on simple and effective ways to prioritize mental and physical health.
Find a new activity.
Activities that improve both physical and mental health at the same time are a great first step to improving overall wellness. Gardening, cooking, walking after meals and crafting are all ways to keep the mind and brain active. Find something that fits into a lifestyle or routine.
Protect your personal time.
It’s important to prevent caregiver burnout, which is a state of mental and physical exhaustion due to caregiver responsibilities. Set aside time during the day, even if it’s five minutes, to relax or do a small mindfulness activity that calms the body and mind.
Prioritize yourself.
Self-care doesn’t need to look like perfectly packaged skincare advertisements or commercials. It can be as simple as taking time to stretch in the morning, write in a journal, or make an appointment for a health check-up. Learn more about how we recommend caregivers prioritize self-care.
Set realistic fitness goals.
Studies show that something as small as 30 minutes of exercise a day can reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. The best part? It doesn’t even have to be 30 consecutive minutes. Move for at least 30 minutes a day to make a world of a difference both on the body and on the mind, improve sleep, improve mood and reduce stress.
Remember, while caregivers often think of their loved one’s health and care first, the impact of not taking care of their own health can be detrimental. When their health is not prioritized, it can affect how they show up in their home and work lives. At home, it can look like getting frustrated with loved ones, isolating from family activities or eating less. At work, it can look like being more absent or having to take more sick days, showing up less engaged, or the inability to focus and be as productive.
“We cannot pour from an empty cup. We need to remember that caring for our own health helps us to provide our loved ones and allows us to show up as our best selves,” Mohan says.
Having dedicated, individualized caregiver support provides employees with the resources they need to feel empowered to take charge of their own health needs. At Cariloop, our Care Coaches help employees prioritize their mental and physical health by:
- Finding behavioral support
- Providing diagnosis-specific information
- Finding and vetting providers
- Providing information on addiction support
- Exploring nutritional resources and options
To learn more about how a Care Coach can help you or your employee base with mental and physical health needs, reach out to us at any time.
