Resolutions

     The time has come to reassess what we have done over the past year and what we would like to accomplish in the coming year.  Goals are good.   But without a plan those goals will never be reached.  The plan for reaching those goals needs to be flexible, reviewed regularly and adjusted frequently. 
     The same could be said for care giving.  Setting a plan in place and never deviating is a recipe for disaster.  One thing you can be sure of once you take on the care giving role is that nothing ever stays the same.  The more you plan, the more God laughs. 
     Some suggestions:
1. Take your role as a care giver seriously, but do not take yourself too seriously.  Accept the fact that you are going to make mistakes and forget things.  You thought you were busy before, but now you are responsible for a whole other person.  Yes, you will forget your hair appointment.  You will remember the milk after you get back from the store (and that is the one item that you went out for).  Allow yourself to be less than perfect.
2. Make lists for yourself.  Break it down into each day if needed.  Be as thorough as possible.  When things are written down you will find yourself relaxing a bit more.  A lot of time and energy is spent trying to remember what you wanted to do next.  Refer to the list when those moments hit.
3. Accept the fact that you will probably not get everything on the list done each day.  Always allow some time on the next days list for one or two items to flow over.  This will help you to feel less stressed as the week progresses.
4. Ask for help. This cannot be emphasized enough. It is not easy to do.  This is a skill that you will need to learn over time.  Call a trained home care provider to assist you with this.
     Do not forget to add some personal time to some of the lists.  Without personal time you will quickly begin to feel overwhelmed and experience "burn out."  This is very real and could be serious for your physical and mental health.  Put in some time for laughter.  If necessary, add sleep to the schedule.  It sounds silly, but it can help you to remember that it is an important part of your over all health.