Getting it all done is a dream for most caregivers. It seems like the tasks are constantly piling up rather than going away. So, is there anything that will really help?
Getting Stuff Out of Your Head
When everything you have to do is in your head only, that tends to slow the process down more than you realize. Getting everything out of your head and onto paper helps you to be more efficient. When you can see everything listed out, it’s much easier to batch tasks, plan when to get them done, or even to hand them off to someone else.
Being Realistic about Your Lists
While you’re putting a to do list together for just one day or for one timespan, it’s important to be realistic. If you’re overestimating what you can do or underestimating how long it takes to get a specific set of tasks completed, that’s going to mess with your day. You may even start to feel like you’re the problem, when it’s really just your approach that is holding you back.
Having Reminders You Don’t Have to Think About
Reminders can be helpful, but a note that you have to remember to look at might not be as helpful as you need it to be. Alarms and reminders that are tied into your electronic task list or to your calendar can be a lot more helpful because they are active alerts, rather than passive notes. This is one reason you might want to use an electronic calendar on your phone, even if you have a paper planner that you also use. Adding important items to the electronic calendar gives you a chance to have an automatic reminder.
Getting More Comfortable with Delegating
Are you delegating? Probably not, especially if you’re like most caregivers. Relying on other people is difficult at first, but it can pay off with big dividends. Having help from elderly care providers means that there’s someone else right there who knows what it’s like to help older adults through their days. You can rely on them to be able to complete the tasks your senior most needs help managing and then those tasks are off your plate.
You don’t have to do everything by yourself and you probably don’t have to do all of the tasks you have assigned yourself in one day, either. Give yourself a break and some tools that will really help.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING ELDERLY CARE IN SUMMERLIN, NV, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE OF SUMMERLIN. 702-800-4616.