We understand – 24 hours is just not enough to complete your to-do list from day to day as a family caregiver. Family caregivers are frequently overloaded with daily care tasks: Shopping and other errands. Personal home care and hygiene. Medical appointments. Planning and preparing meals. Housework and laundry. Planning activities that are purposeful and enjoyable for the older adult. And all of this is in addition to meeting the needs of your own spouse, children, household, and if there’s any time left over, yourself!
Just for a second, take a deep breath, and implement these tried-and-true time management suggestions to help every day run more smoothly as a family caregiver.
Define
With your list of responsibilities for the day at your fingertips, determine who is most suitable to manage them. For example, you could have enough free time to run errands for the senior, while a family friend may make a better at-home companion.
Prioritize
Start the day by prioritizing tasks into categories, for example, what must be done today, what you’d like to complete today, and what can wait until a later date. This allows you to devote your full attention to the most urgent needs and set aside the rest.
Implement
Procrastination is an easy temptation to fall into! Now that you have a plan in place for your day, jump in and complete the tasks that require your attention. However, bear in mind that self-care should always be a top priority. Surround yourself with a strong support system that enables you enough time away necessary to ensure your own health is not being compromised.
Keep in mind that the work you're doing is making a huge difference in an aging adult’s life. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily details and lose sight of the big picture and the fact that all you do for the older adult you love is creating a lasting and positive impact.
Bearing that in mind, allow yourself some grace on the days when things don’t go as planned, as will certainly end up being the case every once in a while! When a setback or crisis arises and your to-dos are left undone, realize that tomorrow is a brand new day and the tasks will undoubtedly be there whenever you are prepared to deal with them again.
The Care Company’s caregivers are fully trained, experienced, and ready to assist you in meeting all of a senior family member’s needs – permitting you the time away you need for a healthy and balanced life. Contact us online or call at 416-422-2273 for a free in-home consultation or to learn more about how an at-home caregiver in Toronto and the nearby areas can help you manage your time as a family caregiver.