Perhaps as caregivers, you’d become accustomed to managing, coping and trying to figure things out. Encountering the future with all its uncertainties is overwhelming. Caregivers are being thrown off their routines as they try to stay afloat in the sea of added responsibilities. Caregivers often fully know they need time to care for themselves and yet carry guilt for not doing so. What is to be done?  Take it “one day at a time”.

Caregiving during the pandemic

As a caregiver coach, I have discovered some common threads of the caregiving experience :

• It’s hard enough being a caregiver, let alone trying to manage my family.
• Dad’s day program is cancelled for geez, who knows how long?
• My spouse is so out of sorts with all the changes to his routine.
• “I’m so sorry. We just can’t help you at this time,  we have no staff” said the community agency

• I need to work from home. There is just no caregiver relief at this time
• I want things back to normal. I feel everything is out of my control.

What can be done?  

"Take it One Day at a Time”. This tried-and true slogan used in the recovery movement has been life-altering for many people in 12-step programs and can undoubtedly apply to family caregivers too.

Every day begins with a sunrise and ends with a sunset and we all share the same 24 hours. Facing life one day at a time is a more doable way to get through caregiving responsibilities. Sometimes needing to break things down into even more manageable segments of time like just for this hour or for the next five minutes can make all the difference to a caregiver.

Try a “Just for Today” activity

Just for today…I will phone and connect with someone

Call a friend, let them know you were thinking about them. The call doesn’t have to be lengthy. Funny thing, at the end of the call you won’t know who uplifted who.

Just for today…I will allow a “worry” period

Set an alarm for 30 minutes to worry (preferably early on in your day) so that the rest of the time becomes a worry-free zone. As you develop the skill of postponing worrying, you also begin to realize that you have more control than you think.

Just for today…I will get out of my pajamas

While working from home, get dressed as though going to the office. This will help you get  ready for the day and set you in a work state of mind. We know what staying in your pajamas makes you really want to do.

Just for today… I will take five minutes for myself

You may not have the caregiver relief/respite you need at this time. You are most likely catching snippets of time for yourself here and there and when you can. Take a 5 minute snippet to breathe mindfully. Slowly but surely, 5 minute breathing can become a new habit that decreases your stress.

Just for today…I will take a moment to watch the birds outside my window

Observing birds is a great opportunity to simply be present and think calming thoughts.

Just for today… I will look into trying an online support group

“K”, a daughter caring for her mother with dementia, relayed that she’d never considered online support until recently. Her mother regularly followed her within the home wanting to know "K"s whereabouts and activities. "K" was able to take  breaks and escape with playing games and reading Facebook posts on her tablet as long as Mom had her in sight. One evening, "K" took a chance and registered for an online adult child caregiver support group. Using her tablet, she nonchalantly plugged in her ear buds, joined in on the group and listened in as others shared about their caregiving experiences. "K" was able to participate by using the online chat feature. Mom could see her “playing” on the tablet. In the mean time, "K" received validation and support from her caregiving peers without Mom suspecting a thing. She was especially grateful to access emotional support during the pandemic.

An Inspirational Poem: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. (Author unknown)

There are two days in every week
about which we should not worry,
Two days which should be kept free of fear and apprehension.

One of these days is YESTERDAY,
With its mistakes and cares,
Its faults and blunders,
Its aches and pains.
YESTERDAY has passed forever beyond our control.

All the money in the world cannot bring back YESTERDAY.
We cannot undo a single act we performed;
We cannot erase a single word we said.
YESTERDAY is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is TOMORROW
With its possible adversities, its burdens, its larger promise.
TOMORROW is also beyond our immediate control.

TOMORROW, the sun will rise,
Either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds,
But it will rise.
Until it does, we have no stake in TOMORROW
For it is as yet unborn.

This leaves only one day – TODAY.
Any man can fight the battles of just one day.
It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities
– YESTERDAY and TOMORROW –
That we break down.

It is not the experience of TODAY that drives men mad.
It is remorse or bitterness for something which happened YESTERDAY
And the dread of what TOMORROW may bring.

Let us, therefore, live but ONE day at a time.

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Tell us how One Day at a Time has worked for you in your role as caregiver.

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