Being a caregiver for a friend, loved one, or even as a professional is full of rewarding moments. You are the person someone looks to help with their daily tasks, and you are entrusted with someone’s life in many cases. If you are a caregiver, you probably are always thinking about someone else and don’t spend enough time thinking about the care you are giving yourself.

We have a few tips that you can follow to ensure you get the self-care you need! It’s important to carve out time for yourself, it may seem obvious, but often it is the hardest thing to do. Make sure you have a specific amount of time allocated to you to practice good self-care each day.

1. Have a good night’s sleep and eat well. These seem like obvious things, but we know how hard it can be to make sure you’re eating well. Maintaining good nutrition and eating whole foods that aren’t heavily processed will help fuel your body with energy to complete the tasks you need to do, and we all know how much better we feel when we get enough sleep.

2. Practice meditation or yoga. You don’t have to be a master of either! But sometimes, paying careful attention to your thoughts and practicing mindfulness can provide clarity. You can find time to pay attention to what is occupying your mind through yoga or meditation and, hopefully, make way for positive affirmations. There are tons of apps to help with mediation like headspace, Meditation Oasis, or Calm.

3. Find support from other caregivers. It’s essential to have a community to hold you up; being a caregiver is hard. To keep from burning out and feeling alone, talk to other people in your position. Here is an article with some support groups to check out.

4. Find a good TV show, movie, or podcast. Find something to keep you entertained where you can forget your responsibilities and get drawn into a story. Something light that you can throw on is just what you need to relax. Anything that makes you laugh is also great too.

5. Get some exercise. A brisk walk in nature, a fitness class or a quick gym session gets the blood pumping and releases endorphins into your system. Whatever your fitness level is, any kind of movement is excellent for your body and mind. You know what they say – you never regret a workout.

These simple tips can help make sure you take the time to give the care you deserve to avoid burnout and reduce your stress as a caregiver.