Caring for a family member is frequently an all-consuming role. It takes so much of your energy, time, and focus that when you find yourself no longer caregiving, for any reason, it can leave you feeling lost. Other common feelings to expect if you are no longer serving as caregiver for a loved one include:
- Hopelessness
- Confusion
- Sadness
- Anger
- Exhaustion
- Grief
- Relief
- And so many others
Finding Yourself After Caregiving
It is best to allow yourself some transitional time to rediscover what it is like to live a life that doesn’t include putting someone else’s needs first. Take time for reflection on your caregiving experience. What did you learn? How did it change you?
It is also common to feel some degree of guilt once your caregiving role ends. You may feel as though there were things you should have done differently or might have done better. The “what ifs” are quite common, and it can be easy to fall into feelings of regret. It’s important to forgive yourself and alter your internal dialogue to focus on the many positive ways you impacted your family member while providing care. Accept any mistakes, perceived or real, by knowing that you are human and that you did your very best. Extend the same grace to yourself that you’d extend to somebody else.
Once you’ve processed the complex emotions surrounding this transitional time, think through the following:
- How would you like to structure your days now that you have extra time available?
- Are there volunteer opportunities that interest you?
- What relationships have had to take a back seat while you were providing care? What steps can you take to rebuild them?
- What activities, hobbies, and passions do you want to pursue?
It’s best to set small goals that are easily reached, instead of biting off more than you might be able to chew. For instance, you may choose to reach out to one trusted friend to see if they would want to meet for a weekly coffee or lunch date. Take sufficient time for self-care to nurture both your body and mind, and gradually add on more activities as you feel prepared to take them on.
Talk to Superior Senior Home Care
If you find that you miss caring for others, we would love to talk to you about an opportunity to make use of your skills and compassion to brighten life for another person in need of assistance. Your experience as a family caregiver makes you a great fit for a professional caregiving role, and we will equip you with full training and all the support you will need to make a difference in someone else’s life. Learn more and apply here.
Contact us any time at 805-737-4357 to find out more.