Florida Council of Catholic Women/Province of Miami at P. O. Box 1811, Labelle, FL 33975 US - A JOURNEY TO RESPITE
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A JOURNEY TO RESPITE
Faye Johnson |
We all need respite, time-out for ourselves. If we don’t take time to care for ourselves, we will be unable to care for others and will surely feel like jelly between two slices of bread, smothered and unable to breath in this “sandwich generation.” We have come to a time in our lives where many working people are taking care of their families and are having to care for aging parents: “The sandwich generation.” We, the caregivers, need to be able to be in control. To help maintain control, we have to fight stress. Here are some tips from Dr. Joyce Brothers. ¨ Spend time by yourself. Claim an area where you might find peace and quiet and call it “off limits” to others. Pray, take a nap, work on a hobby, or read a book in your own “space.” ¨ Breath deeply, visualize yourself at peace. Think about the soft breeze of the ocean, the sound of the waves, the smell of the water. Allow yourself to float on a cloud over the ocean, feel the warmth of the sun. ¨ Pack a picnic basket. Breath the fresh air. Take a walk in the woods. Do some exercise. ¨ Find time for yourself. No – make time! How? Make an appointment for yourself. Mark it on your calendar. Take an hour or two a week and do something. Soak in the tub. See a movie. Dig in your garden. Go to lunch. Shop. Do whatever gives you a sense of freedom. You will find that by “pampering” yourself a little you will be able to be in control. You will be better able to manage the care of all of your loved ones because you have cared for yourself.