Embrace; Providing e-Learning to the Care Sector Since 2004

Health and Social care teams deserve a greater than average measure of gratitude and respect for being there to care for us when we need it most. But without the right support, daily engagement in emotional and physically demanding work can seriously impact the health and well-being of anyone – and the most dedicated among you are also the most likely to succumb.

Which is why Embrace Resilience created a range of fully accredited Wellbeing modules designed specifically for carers and their managers – its’ also why we bring you our …

6 top tips for staying well when the going gets tough.

1. Take some time for yourself.

This is not an optional extra. People depend on you too much to let your emotional shape go to the dogs.  Time devoted to your self is the one thing that will make it possible for you to continue caring for others.

Make a list of three things that make you feel happy.  Just a note here,  having a very clean oven does not count but a long walk on a big beach, dancing a quick tango in the kitchen and a big fat lie in all do.

Make sure that a least one thing on the list can be done at the drop of a hat and snatch a quick fix when you can.

Then commit to making absolutely certain that the other two become a permanent and unmovable feature of your week and month …

Which takes us directly to …

2. Ask for help. Everyone needs help.

You are not the exception to this rule.

When people offer help take it, every time, even on days when you don’t really need it.

Try to avoid making yourself indispensable. Encourage independence in others and get comfortable with delegation, which is not the same as abdication – I promise.

So you know, some people will genuinely want to help and others really ought to help. If the people who ought to don’t offer to, make a very specific request – and if they honestly can’t find the time – because we’re all busy – make the serious suggestion that they could pay someone else to do it.

3. Meditate – yes, you’re short of time but this will reward you more than you think.

Sit still, breathe slowly and listen to silence for just three minutes in the day.

Count the sounds you can hear, which might include your heart beat, the dryer kicking in and the kettle cooling down –  just stop moving and stay in the moment.

Anyone who has experienced the stress of having a million thoughts all fighting for attention will benefit from this quick reboot – the minutes pass really fast and the benefits are more lasting than the sugar boost you might otherwise reach for.

4. Talk to your Friends

Sometimes you need to know that others care for you too. Choose your confidants wisely though. Saying your thoughts out loud is only helpful if you’re confident that they won’t be taken down and used as evidence against you.

5.Eat something, preferably fresh, preferably green and preferably delicious at least once per day.

And drink enough water. If you had a glass of water every time you stood by the sink to wash dishes, cook something or clean something you’d feel a great deal better. Dehydration is more damaging than you think and it will make you look and feel worse than necessary. 85% of brain tissue is water, which is why not drinking enough can make you irritable and depressed

6. Sleep.

If getting to sleep is a problem for you try listening to yourself; name every feeling you’ve experienced in the day, and as you name them, put them to bed.

If you wake too early listen to the world; name every sound you can hear and appreciate the quality of each in turn.

And if that sounds like a pointless waste of good worrying time – think again.

To see the full range of Embrace Resilience and Wellbeing material go to

https://embraceresilience.com/library-accredited-learning-modules/