We completely understand that being a care worker can get overwhelming. Caring for your patient or loved one can require massive amounts of emotional and physical energy. Carer burnout is a devastating feeling. It is so important to recognise the symptoms of burnout as early as you can, because once these feelings kick in, yourself and the person you are caring for will begin to suffer. This blog is about how to recognise burnout and ways to help avoid it from happening.
These are just a few of the warning signs to help you recognise carer burnout:
- Feeling constantly exhausted even after resting
- Feeling helpless
- Uncharacteristic outbursts
- Irritable and impatient
- Losing interest in hobbies
- Difficulty relaxing
Potential causes of caregiver burnout can include:
- Providing continual care for someone who has a difficulty to show gratitude for their care
- Feeling alone and deserted by family, care services or a partner
- Fears surrounding coping with little support
- Reluctant or unable to accept help from others / unwilling to seek out help from others
The best and most simply way to avoid carer burnout is taking the time to understand your feelings and taking action to regain balance in your life. The more you look after yourself physically and mentally, the better you can look after your patient.
To make these improvements, we recommend these three main areas:
Work On Your Physical Health
Make sure you get sufficient rest, ensure that you’re eating enough and that your diet is healthy, and try to get some exercise in when you can during your day.
Strengthen Your Support System
Everything is easier to cope with when you have a loving support network around you. Let friends and family know you need their support and seek out a local support group where people are going through similar situations as you.
Try To Find New Activities
Look for new hobbies or interests to engage with, either alone or with your patient. For example, playing board games, learning a new skill, or finding a creative project to complete.
Set Manageable, Achievable Goals
Even if these goals are as small as going to the shop for your patient or spending 30 mins a day/night to read, listen to music or relax. Keeping a journal is also a good and confidential way to release your thoughts. These entries don’t have to be about what you’re feeling, it can be the achievements and goals you have reached through the day, week, month, or year. Just a few minutes out of your day could make a huge difference.
A career in home care requires a level of patience, empathy, and resilience. If you think you’d be well suited to a job in home care, get in touch with our team today.
Find this blog helpful? Tweet about it now, just click on the Twitter Icon.
