Caregivers play a significant role in the home care and healthcare workforce as they are tasked with the responsibility of solving problems.

At any time, caregivers play an integral part in the health system, especially in the event of a global health pandemic. While caregivers continue to offer support to the elderly or ailing during the COVID-19 pandemic, most of them deal with various forms of stress.

Stress Management for Caregivers During COVID-19 Pandemic

In our first installment of the stress management series, we talked about identifying signs of stress during COVID-19. This second installment will focus on stress management during the COVID-19 pandemic for caregivers.

For caregivers, Michigan Medicine explains three basic stress management principles during the pandemic. These include:

• For you to give care, you must take care of yourself first.

• Purpose to focus on what is within your control.

• Remain emotionally and mentally connected.

Here are some of the ways you can manage stress during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Physical Ways to Manage Stress

Physical Ways to Manage Stress

• Get enough sleep by maintaining a sleep routine where you sleep and wake up at the same time daily.
• Incorporate physical activity or exercise in your daily routine to help reduce anxiety and improve your mood.
• Eat a healthy balanced diet by incorporating more fruits and veggies into your diet to keep your energy up.
• Avoid self-medicating with alcohol, tobacco, or drugs as these tend to worsen your coping skills.
• Take time off to recharge and relax by setting aside a few minutes to engage in practices such as deep breathing, soaking in a bubble bath, meditation, or yoga.
• Ask for help if you are lifting heavy objects at work or if you need help transferring a patient from one place to another.
• Listen to your body and honor its demands. If you start experiencing body aches or fatigue, it is time to take a break, ask for a day off.
• Plan your day off to include activities that do not involve work, and avoid carrying any work home.
• Maintaining an organized environment at work and home as a cluttered environment affects the ability to cope with stress.
• Follow precautionary safety measures such as wearing PPEs, regular hand washing, and overall hygiene.

Mental and Emotional Ways to Manage Stress

• Maintain a routine/schedule by sticking to your regular sleep schedule, consistent meal times, personal care activities, and work schedules.
• Stay informed from reliable sources such as public health authorities in your location, the CDC, or the World Health Organization.
• Limit your media consumption to specific times of the day for a limited time to avoid getting overwhelmed with information (mostly unverified).
• Be cautious with the kind of information you share on your social media platforms, as you do not want to cause unnecessary panic.
• Create a positive mindset by making the best out of the situation by keeping a journal on the things you are thankful for every day.
• Prioritize the important things by setting achievable goals and give yourself credit for those achieved. Recognize that you will have better days than others too.
• Stay mentally and emotionally connected by recognizing changes or reactions to each situation.
• Talk to someone or create a caregiver support group to share your experiences or challenges within the workplace.

Social Ways to Manage Stress

Social Ways to Manage Stress

• Remain connected even with physical distance by staying in touch with your friends and family over social media, phone, or video call.
• During your free time, engage in community activities that are mindful of COVID-19 regulations, such as social distancing.
• Educate your friends, families, or neighbors to avoid stigmatization, especially for caregivers interacting with COVID-19 patients.
• Plan fun activities within your facility to ensure that all caregivers can unwind or take a break (remember to adhere to safety regulations).

Managing stress in the right way helps you gain control of every situation you encounter, and we hope that these tips we have shared will ease the burden on your dedicated caregivers.

Check available options for Respite Care Support in Woburn, MA. 

Stay Safe. Wear a Mask. Wash or Sanitize Your Hands Regularly. Maintain Social Distance.

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