How to Give Yourself Some Down Time When You Don’t Remember What Down Time Is

By Geralyn DiGiovanni, Manager, Client Services | December 22, 2016 |

Caregiver in White Plains NY

Sometimes family caregivers resist taking down time because it doesn’t feel comfortable to do so and they don’t remember what having down time really feels like. You still need to give it a chance, though.

Make a List of Activities You Enjoy

It might take you a little while, but think back to what you used to do when you had time to yourself before becoming a family caregiver. Did you read? Knit? Maybe you went to the gym or spent hours hiking on nature trails. Spend some time making a list of every activity that you have ever gotten joy from doing. These are the types of activities that you’ll want to start incorporating into your down time.

Don’t Be Afraid to Just Do Nothing

In fact, you may need to do just that the first few times that you have some time all to yourself. Doing nothing is a way to allow your brain to clear itself and to simply recharge. Our society tends to focus on doing something all the time, so doing nothing may feel weird at first. Even if you can only stand it for a few minutes at a time, there are some serious benefits to be gained from doing nothing at all.

Schedule Your Down Time into Your Calendar

If you don’t have down time in your calendar as an appointment with yourself, you’re going to be more likely to skip right over it. An appointment is something that you make when something is important to you. You need to be just as important to yourself as anything and anyone else in your life, so make that appointment with yourself.

Stick to Your Schedule

Now that you’ve set aside time to make time for yourself, stick to it. If there’s an emergency, of course, you may need to change your plans around. But in general, you need to give yourself permission to stick with that appointment. You may not feel comfortable at first, but you’ll need to push past that feeling in order to get the benefits that you’ll get from allowing yourself time away.

Start slowly and let yourself get used to having some time on your own to do whatever you want to do.

If you or an aging loved one are looking for caregiver services in White Plains, NY, call the friendly staff at The Perfect Home Care at (855) 855-5728. Call today!

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Geralyn DiGiovanni, Manager, Client Services

Manager, Client Services at The Perfect Home Care

Geralyn DiGiovanni has been marketing director of The Perfect Home Care since July, 2013. She’s responsible for promoting the agency by identifying and reaching out to market segments that align with the services offered by The Perfect Home Care. Among others, she works closely with geriatric care managers, elder care attorneys, and assisted living facilities. Her industry-specific experience includes multiple stints as a companion aide for seniors. She also has extensive experience in the publishing industry, where she worked as an account manager. “I love this industry and am passionate about working with seniors,” she says.

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