Monitor Your Health-ABCs of Self-Care for Caregivers

Beloved friend, I pray that you are prospering (all is well) in every way and that you continually enjoy good health, just as your soul is prospering. 3 John 1:2 TPT“Nearly three quarters of family caregivers report not going to the doctor as often as they should and say they skip doctor appointments for themselves. 63% of caregivers report having poor eating habits than non-caregivers and 58% indicate worse exercise habits than before caregiving responsibilities. ( National Alliance for Caregiving and Evercare)What can you do differently?Keep your own health appointmentsIn the pressure of getting those you take care of to the doctor you might neglect your own health appointment because you think, “It can wait…” No, it cannot. Pick up that phone and make your appointment. Do it right now.Change your eating habitsDrink water instead of soft drinksMunch on a handful of nuts instead of that cookieIncrease vegetable consumption Cut out processed foodsAvoid all fast-food places Prepare healthy snacks ahead of timeIncrease movementAs you wake up every morning s-t-r-e-t-c-h! Set a small goal to monitor your steps each day. Get someone to help you for an hour a day so that you can walk. Take care of your own emotional needsThis verse also refers to your soul - that is your emotions. In this hamster wheel called care-giving you can often bury what you are feeling so deeply that you begin to feel nothing. Your emotional health comes first - and then your physical will follow.Develop a social network and reach out them consistentlyAsk for help when you need to.Self-care is NOT selfish. PrayerThank you, Father, that you care for my listeners even more than they may be caring for themselves. I pray that You give them wisdom to monitor their own well-being and to prioritize their decisions from that viewpoint. Give them deep, rest-filled sleep. Show them the window to take a small window of ‘alone’ time every day. Give their loved ones the grace to pull back on their own demands to allow the time for these precious ones to be refreshed. Most of all, may they feel your presence and good pleasure in all they do day in and day out.In Jesus nameAmenHere are more letters:A-Accept Your Role with HonorB-Bounce Back with HopeC-Celebrate EverythingD - Dance with AbandonE - Eat Right and Enjoy Every BiteF- Forgive FreelyG-Go OutsideH-Have a Good Cry When NeededI-Infuse Hope - Be a ThermostatJ-JournaSend a textFor more hope inspiration you can follow her posts on:https://www.instagram.com/the.hope.ladyhttps://www.facebook.com/hopeispowerfulRate and review this podcast to spread the hope to others who need to be reminded they can go from rock-bottom to the mountain top one step at a time.