5 Practical Time Management Tips for the Caregiver
Time management is probably the most needed skill for caregivers. If you don’t have such, chances are you find it challenging to care for others while maintaining your own life’s responsibilities.
The good news is that time management is one of those skills that is easy to master. In this post, you will find tips on how to provide proper care to your loved ones while creating space for your own needs.
1. Write to-do lists
Caregivers complete dozens of different small and big tasks daily. And it might be difficult for you to juggle all of those tasks in your head. Try writing a to-do list and stick to it.
You can create to-do lists using apps such as Todoist, Evernote, and Zapier. Or you can get back to basics and use good old-fashioned pen and paper. Once you jot down everything you have to do in one list, you will be able to prioritize your tasks and schedule your activities.
2. Schedule “me” time
Caregivers tend to focus on the wants and needs of their loved ones rather than their own desires. And that’s a struggle because caregivers, too, have physical and psychological needs related to their own wellbeing, and are certainly at risk of burnout.
Do you do your best to take care of your aging parents and have little or no “me” time? Schedule your “me” time and find at least a few hours in a week to enjoy activities you like the most, like reading, drawing, writing, or bicycle riding.
Why is scheduling important? If you don’t plan your week, then chances are your daily caregiving routine will take over. By scheduling your week, you will get your life more organized and find time to relax and unwind.
3. Consider remote work opportunities
Do you have a long commute to work? If so, consider shifting to remote work or partial remote work (if it’s applicable to your job). Remote working will help you create extra time in your day, so you will have more time to care for your aging parents.
4. Declutter your space
Is your loved one a saver? It’s nearly impossible to stay organized and maintain cleanliness in a cluttered house. Offer to help by going through one dresser, or one closet, or one drawer at a time. Use this time together to share special memories. Let your loved one know you’re not being wasteful as you identify items to remove, but that others may benefit from the donation of clothes, furniture, or kitchen items.
5. Get help if needed
It’s tough to ask for help! Caregivers play the roles of cooks, cleaners, couriers, drivers, schedulers, and they rarely seek professional assistance. They try to wear too many hats at once, and that makes them feel exhausted.
Do you feel like you don’t have enough hours in the day to get everything done? You may face this problem because you find it tough to ask for help.
There are many people out there who can help you to care for older adults and to take some responsibilities off your plate. You can hire professionals in the field or ask your relatives to assist you – there is nothing to be ashamed of! You may even find people are so eager to be of some help, that they’ll immediately pitch in!
Wrapping up
The life of a caregiver can be easier with these practical time management tips. Try them out and hopefully you’ll find more time to enjoy the little things in life.
–by Nicole Garrison
Nicole Garrison is a content strategist and writer at SupremeDissertations. She is a dedicated and experienced author who pays particular attention to quality research. Nicole writes relevant content for small businesses, freelancers, and digital marketing agencies.