Eldercare & Caregiver News and Articles of Interest

Eldercare & Caregiver Resource Center:
News & Articles of Interest

New Year's Resolutions from the Inside-Out

Lose weight, exercise, quit smoking……………. These are the common New Year's resolutions and usually we do them for the first month and then we gradually begin to get back into our old habits. This year, try something new; look at your resolutions from the inside out. This is more difficult because it is not as tangible, but the results are far greater and long lasting.

As caregivers, the most common complaint is tiredness and stress. This is understandable because of the extra time and emotional commitment that is required to care for another person and continue daily responsibilities of work and family.

Mira Kirshenbaum's revolutionary new book, The Emotional Energy Factor, redefines energy to think beyond the physical terms. It is important to get plenty of sleep, adequate nutrition and of course exercise but energy is more than physical. Ms. Kirshenbaum has surveyed endocrinologists, nutritionists and sports medicine specialists and has discovered {made} an "astonishing consensus". {that} "{70} Seventy percent of our total energy is emotional." What does this "emotional energy" look like? She states it is manifested as "hope, resilience, passion, fun and enthusiasm."

Our society teaches us how to take care of our bodies but does not teach us how to nurture our heart and soul. I know many of you are saying, "That sounds great, but how do I get this energy?" Ms. Gottlieb, summarizes these steps in her magazine article
" Solving the Emotional Energy Crisis" in the January issue of "O" magazine.

1. Plug the leaks: Learn to recognize what drains your energy - life situation, toxic people, or habits of mind like worry, guilt, indecision, and envy. Now take steps to avoid these and/or minimize them.
2. Identify what fills your tank: pleasure, prayer, novelty, anticipation, fun-and give yourself more.

Here are helpful hints to help you implement these steps:

Give yourself permission to get your needs met- to have emotional energy. You deserve it and are worth it. If your needs are not met, you will not be worth anything to the person you are caregiving.
Develop a strategy to get your needs met. How are you going to do this?
FEEL what it would be like if your needs were met and you had energy to do what you love. Would you feel a sense of peace and joy? Feel those good feelings and know it is possible to feel enthusiastic and alive.
Start now, take a small step towards getting your needs met and every day take another step.

Remember: Don't be hard on yourself. We do not learn new behaviors and thought patterns overnight. If you backslide, just start again. Before you know it, you will be "plugging your leaks" and "filling your tank".

This is the time of year to re-evaluate your needs and take care of YOU- your most precious resource. Go soul searching and discover those wonderful parts of you that have been buried and dormant. Revitalize them to begin the New Year from the inside out to see a New YOU!

A St. Andrew's Eldercare Specialist is available to meet with you regarding any questions or concerns you may have about your role as a caregiver. Please contact us today.

Did You Know?
It is important to get plenty of sleep, adequate nutrition and of course exercise but energy is more than physical.

St. Andrew's Resources for Seniors: Eldercare & Caregiver Resource Center
6633 Delmar Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63130 Phone: 314-726-5766 Fax: 314-726-5719 Contact Us