Looking after you

We had a mother call us bursting with energy saying, “Having someone come in to support my daughter for two hours, three times a week has meant I can do something for me. Now I have more energy for her.” Hearing the excitement in her voice made us think, how often do we practice self-care?

It isn’t selfish to need a few hours a week to focus on things that you enjoy. Finding a support worker on Mycare can help you to schedule some me-time, whether it means that they support a loved one while you, the main carer, has some valuable time out, or, if you require support, it can mean having someone support you while you pursue a hobby or activity.

Self-care is important for all of us to practice. It is the deliberate and mindful action of taking time to do something just for you, and to focus solely on yourself. This helps to reduce stress and enables you to ensure you are functioning in the best way possible. Many people struggle with taking time for themselves from their busy schedules. However, usually the busier we are the more we need to ensure that we are taking this time.

Self-care isn’t necessarily about going on a big shopping trip or doing something extravagant, it can be something as simple as putting your feet up and listening to some music.  There are countless types of self-care you can practice that can take as much or as little time as you like. It is up to you to tailor your self-care to best suit your lifestyle and your needs.

We are all social beings, so make sure you take time to meet up with friends and spend time with people who lift your spirits and provide you with emotional support. It is so easy to neglect good friends because you think you can just pick up the friendship whenever it's needed. And before you know it, you have neglected them. Therefore, it can be useful to dedicate a day each week, or even once a month, to catch up. For example, you could organise a curry night every third Friday of the month. That way you have a regular catch-up scheduled in your diary.

Some types of self-care you could try:

• Breathing exercises/deep breathing
• Stretching
• Meditating (this could involve just closing your eyes and being mindful for a few minutes)
• Taking a nap
• Exercising
• Reading
• Going for a walk
• Taking a bath
• Spending time outside
• Engaging in a hobby
• Going for a drive somewhere nice
• Writing a gratitude list
• Yoga
• Volunteering for a cause you care about
• Spending time with pets

If you need support feel free to login/sign up and list a job on Mycare to find the help you need. For help at any point feel free to call our Customer Engagement team on 09 887 9777 or email hello@mycare.co.nz