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As we age the parent/child relationship shifts and you may find yourself balancing the act of being a parent and a caregiver to your ageing parents. This can be a challenging time as you are trying to care for your growing family and also make sure that the needs of your elderly loved ones are also met but, you will also grow to treasure this period of time with your parents. While all of this is manageable and honestly part of life you also need to make sure you are giving yourself proper care during this time, hence the old saying "you cannot pour from an empty cup"! When you feel yourself running low on patience, energy or both give one of these quick self-care options a try!
Prepare your favorite meal
When you feel like you are being pulled in every direction it can be easy to rely fast food and convenience foods at meal time, but not only is proper nutrition important if you are extremely busy, it can also be relaxing and bring normalcy to life to just simply slow down and cook something that you enjoy. Bonus: make extra and freeze it for later meals!
Take a Bath
I don't mean a quick shower, although sometimes a long hot shower in a candle lit room can be relaxing as well. Take the time and do it right with your favorite bath add ins, candles, soft music the whole works.
Take an Exercise Break
Even 10-15 minutes can help you clear your head and feel refreshed, so put on some headphones and take a quick walk or spend some time going through your favorite yoga poses.
Power Nap
A short 10-15 minute nap might be all you need to feel refreshed and ready to go again, so set an alarm, find a comfy spot and take a minute!
Indulge in a hobby
It does not matter what the hobby is, find an hour or two each week to do something you love, you may not be able to complete a whole project in one setting, but little by little it will get done giving you a sense of accomplishment and something to look forward to.
Laugh
Laughter is great for stress relief, so watch a funny show, or look up some funny memes, whatever make you laugh and just let go for a bit.
Ask for help
Last but not least, know your limits and get help when you need it. Reach out to local organizations to find mother's day out programs, senior day programs and respite care. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to extended family members as well, especially if your parents have younger brothers or sisters that are in good health, they may be willing and eager to give you a break.
As you pass through this season in life, remember to take care of yourself so that you can be the best care-giver possible, and this too shall pass!
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