The move from summer into fall can be an excellent opportunity to take a step back, reassess, and reset our routines and goals for the rest of the year. This is especially important if you’re a caregiver with more demands on your time than most people. Continue reading for our top three tips to help you get back into routine this fall.

1. Refocus on your health and wellness
   
   

Summer can be a time of indulging in unhealthy food and drinking more alcohol than we normally would. And even if it isn’t, we often let our routines slip, meaning good habits can fall by the wayside. Fall is an excellent time to get back into those healthy habits. If you’re a caregiver, focussing on your own health and wellness can be even more important as it can help you combat caregiver stress and burnout. A good place to start is by prioritizing your sleep routine. To do this, aim to get to bed at the same time every night, reduce screen time in the hours leading up to bed, and try to eliminate blue lights in your bedroom. Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine can also help you get a good night’s sleep. Finally, try making your bedroom a haven of calmness and comfort by investing in curtains that block outside light and a comfortable mattress or mattress topper.

       2. Add a new activity to your routine

The start of a new season can be a great opportunity to take up a new activity that you’ve been meaning to try. This could be a new hobby, a class, or even an exercise routine. If you’re a caregiver, this can be especially important. Having a concrete activity scheduled daily or each week can encourage you to take a break from caregiving duties and give your brain a break by focusing on something else. Including a new form of physical activity into your routine can have significant stress-reducing effects, which can help manage caregiver burnout.

       3. Connect with others

Between 40 and 70% of caregivers experience symptoms of depression, which can often be caused by feelings of isolation and loneliness. These feelings can be exacerbated over the summer months when friends and family go away on vacation. As we move into fall, try making it a priority to reconnect with those around you. If you feel that your friends and family don’t understand the pressures of caregiving, consider looking for a support group. This could be either a local, in-person group or an online one.

Although rewarding in many ways, being a caregiver can also be stressful. We hope these tips help you revitalize your routine and give you a boost for the new season.

The information presented in this blog post is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on any information in this post as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or as a substitute for professional counseling care. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional.

Resources

https://www.brunet.ca/en/health/health-tips/get-back-into-your-routine/

https://www.emblemhealth.com/blog/health/10-tips-for-getting-back-into-a-healthy-routine

https://www.caregiver.org/news/caregiver-isolation-and-loneliness/