A Guide to Manage your Time as a Caregiver

As a caregiver, you are likely to get less time due to the nature of work you engage in. Caring for people is not a 9–5 job. It requires physical, mental, and emotional presence all the time, day in, day out. In the process, one may even get tired because of a lack of time for self. It can even get hard to find a moment of peace for oneself, but it is certainly not difficult. With the right approach and good management skills, one can effectively managing your time and take out few minutes to rejuvenate.

So, if you are a caregiver and feeling helpless, unable to streamline tasks, here’s the guide to managing time for yourself without affecting the working hours. Here we go:

• Prioritize your Work: Making a to-do list is a good habit. If you put something to do on a calendar, that task will be done and if something is not on the list, it will be left undone. So, to prioritize the tasks, make a list first. Write your tasks in ascending order and then complete them one after the other. One task at a time will relieve your burden and also give great results. In case, you are left with some pending tasks, add them to the next day’s to-do list. Keep your list flexible and simple. Remember not to be hard on yourself. Also, make sure you leave room for unexpected events and complete the most difficult task first.
• Seek Help Whenever Necessary: If you know someone who is doing well as a caregiver. Reach out to them. Seek help and learn how they manage time. Everyone has a different way of managing things. So, when you talk, you might come across some of the practices that suit your needs. If you like any of their practice, just adopt them and see how things change positively for you.
• Plan Ahead: Taking even five minutes to plan the next move can be a great life saver for you in the long run. Planning ahead helps in covering gaps and lessens one’s burden. If you think you would require someone’s help, inform them beforehand. Extra-hands are always helpful especially in case of any untoward incident that arises. So, develop a futuristic approach.
• Define Roles: Duplication of tasks is one of the worst practices. It consumes a lot of time and effort. Avoid this practice. It frustrates you and lowers your productivity too. To get rid of duplication, define roles and responsibilities. Be clear about the duties to be performed. For example, you can engage your client in small activities like folding clothes, setting the dinner table, etc. Or you can even ask the family members to help in the activities. Defining roles is one of the best practices, so make it a routine for you.
• Do not Procrastinate: With time, everything gets complicated, even your tasks. So, do not leave them for tomorrow without doing anything about it. Our molehills turn into mountains. So, complete your task now and do not linger on it.
• Stay Mindful: If you are not able to concentrate on the present, you are likely to be less efficient. If your mind is torn between the present and the future, you are likely to get more stressed and less productive. Rather than multitasking, just focus on one task at a time. Stay mindful and present.

Adhering to the above-mentioned points and making it a part of the routine is something that will help caregivers manages their time effectively. Efficient time management skill, if made a part of life, any obstacle can be endured and you will emerge victoriously.