Looking after yourself while caring for others
🔵 Wellness practice
Parents, grandparents and family caregivers often put everyone else first. Over time this can leave you exhausted, irritable or withdrawn. That is a sign you need support, not a sign that you are failing.
Small steps that help
- Share the load. Ask for specific help: “Could you take the children on Saturday morning?”
- Take short breaks. Five minutes of quiet or a short walk still counts.
- Protect sleep where you can.
- Keep one thing for yourself: a hobby, a prayer, a call with a friend.
- Say it aloud. “I’m finding this hard” is a good sentence to tell someone you trust.
Try now
Take three slow breaths, then name one thing that is within your control today.
If you feel hopeless, cannot cope for weeks, or have thoughts of harming yourself, please talk to a doctor, a counsellor or someone you trust today.