Family Life and Caregiving: Achieving Balance
Ella has been working as a caregiver for almost eight years. She started when her eldest child was barely a year old. Ella loves caregiving, even though after work she is usually too tired to attend to her home life. After giving birth to her third child, she feels that her family needs her more than ever, yet the pressure at work leaves her exhausted and unable to be the wife and mother she wants to be. The result is burnout and an overwhelming feeling to give up her job as a caregiver to care for her own family full-time.
Ella’s experience is not unique. Many caregivers can relate to her story with their own version of their frustrations. How can you juggle work and family life properly? Achieving balance is not easy, but it is doable with these helpful tips:
First, manage your work to prevent burnout. You’ll have to learn how to leave job-related problems at work and not to bring negativity home with you. Cranky co-workers and patients do not live with you, so learn to forget about them after work. If you can master only this tip, then you'll be able to come home in a good mood, greet your loved ones positively, and have a great time with them.
Next, change your game plan. If your workplace is far from home, you may want to consider a company that is nearer, even for less pay. In the long-term, spending less time commuting will mean more time to rest and have quality family time.
It might also help to consider changing the type of caregiving work you do, or changing shifts. If you find that working as a home health aide is less stressful than working in a home health facility, then consider this option. Or, perhaps taking the night shift where the workload is easier would be a better choice, because mornings at home are more productive for you. Whatever the case, brainstorm ways to make more time and energy for your spouse and children.
Maximize your paid leaves. Talk to your employer about your situation and try to take a break for days in a row. Check to see if there are assistance programs for employees that can help you.
Take advantage of technology. While focusing at work is important, you will also create more connection with your loved ones if you stay up-to-date with what's going on in their lives by making video calls to family members during breaks.
Take care of yourself. Being kind to oneself is another excellent means of creating a balance between work and family time, because you are healthy enough to enjoy your time at home. This means that you have enough energy to be productive in the things you want to accomplish, not just sleeping for hours on end. Eat right and stay hydrated. Take supplements, such as vitamins B and C if needed. These vitamins supercharge you by helping you get more energy from the food you eat.
When working as a caregiver, finding a good work-family balance is an achievement in itself. As such, you need to keep at it until you find solutions that work for you. It might require some major changes, but in the end, your efforts will be worth it.
