Personal Care at Home: Mindfulness is a practice where you are present and aware of what’s going on in your life. Why is it important?
When you’re mindful of the things in your life or daily routine, you’re able to avoid feeling overwhelmed or stressed. When family caregivers get so wrapped up in the care they provide that they forget about their own needs, it can lead to caregiver burnout. Avoid that by embracing mindfulness as a means to de-stress and avoid anxiety. You may also want to consider personal care at home aides to help out. Here are ways to become more mindful.
Discover the Benefits of Meditation
Meditation is a practice where you clear the mind and focus only on the moment. One of the easiest ways to do it is by sitting in a comfortable position in a quiet room. Close your eyes and focus solely on your breaths in and out as you count them. If your mind wanders, bring it back by returning to counting.
Learn About Body Scan Meditation
Body scanning is a practice where you stop and focus on the messages your body is sending. Imagine you’ve just had a stressful encounter with your mom. She has Alzheimer’s disease and today’s not a good day. She’s antsy and refuses to do anything you suggest.
Despite that, you carry on. The next day, your shoulders hurt. You don’t understand it, as you haven’t done anything that would strain your shoulders or upper arms. If you learn to scan your body, you’ll be able to identify tension early. You can take steps to stop, relax, and refresh your thoughts.
It’s a good practice to do a body scan each day. You’ll be able to identify tension, which reduces anxiety, helps you become self-aware, and improves your quality of sleep. How do you practice body scan meditation?
- Get started by laying down or sitting in a comfortable position.
- Close your eyes and focus on different areas of the body.
- Start with the head and slowly work your way down.
- If your attention wanders, redirect it to things your muscles, bones, and skins feel in that area.
- Focus on tension, unusual sensations, and pain so that you can address them.
When there are aches or sensations that you cannot make sense of, call your doctor. If there’s a problem, it’s better to catch things early.
To make sure you have time for meditation and appointments with your doctor, arrange personal care at home services. Start by talking to a home care agency about respite care to learn more about prices and schedules. When you know the right services, have personal care at home aides stay with your parents while you’re taking care of yourself.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Personal Care at Home in Peoria, AZ, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Resources at (602) 443-4700
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