HOW TO AV O I D C A R E G I V E R B U R N O U T
By Gayla Zoz • You don’t stop to think about
Caregiver burnout is a common
issue. In order to prevent burnout
from happening to you,
you must first understand what
burnout is and be able to recognize
the signs.
According to Merriam-Webster,
burnout is “exhaustion of
physical or emotional strength
or motivation usually as a result
of prolonged stress or frustration.”
In other words, you feel
like you can’t go on as a result
of the situation that you’re living
in. Stress and frustration are
common elements of the caregiving
experience.
Here are some signs to
watch for:
• Caregiving has become your
whole life. You do very little
else outside of caregiving.
• You always feel tired or exhausted
even if you do manage
to get a good night’s sleep.
• You get sick often.
• You worry about the future.
• You’re not eating well.
• Your emotions are all over the
map. You get angry one minute
and burst into tears the
next.
• You think you can do everything
yourself and turn down
help from others.
• You cancel your own doctor’s
appointments because you
don’t have time.
• You think you’re the only one
that can provide care to your
loved one.
the impact that caregiving
may be having on you.
If any of the above sound familiar,
you may be headed towards
burnout. It’s important to get
help before it’s too late. As the
expression goes, you can’t pour
from an empty cup.
Here are six ways to avoid
caregiver burnout:
• Build a team. Find people in
your community who can
help you. Are there family,
friends, volunteers, church
members, or paid agency
workers that can help with
chores and errands, or spend
time with the person you care
for so you can get some respite
time? It’s important to recognize
early on that caregiving is
a marathon not a sprint. You
can’t do it alone.
• Exercise. You have heard it
before but it bears repeating.
There is probably nothing
better that you can do
for your physical and mental
health than a 30 minute walk
in the park, dance class or laps
in the pool.
• Take a break, relax, and make
time to do the things you enjoy.
If you don’t think that
you have the time, start with
10 minute breaks and go from
there. Read a good book, listen
to your favorite music,
step outside and enjoy the
fresh air. Make ‘me’ time a
priority.
42 Healthy Living | Winter Issue | 2017–2018