How do you make time for yourself?

Various churches/denominations have events going on (where you don't have to believe in there faith or join... Of coarse, unless you want to). There's a church not far from me in the neighborhood that has concerts in the evening... Tonight, they are having Blue Grass... I ride down on my bicycle for a little while. Check out some church events... I've met some nice people there, had ice cream and even met caregivers. You have to push yourself harder and harder, because it's so easy to decide to sit at home.

I'm one of those that has the 24/7. Some Friday's and Saturday nights with partials during the day I get to escape leaving my poor Dad in the hands of my brother. The guilt is horrible. But the sleep when it comes is heaven sent. My brother refuses to change my dad's diapers. Which rips my heart out every time,but if I keep going without at least one night a week away I become crabby and feeling defeated, incompetent, and a complete martyr. I had some help this week with a woman coming in for four hours so I could change my out of state drivers license to a California one that I needed to keep getting dad his mm. During the week I'm there, I steal snippets of time by going to the bathroom with my phone and one headphone, door open and watch snippets of HBO go. Great documentaries and junk tv with a pause button. I also have my brother come in Wednesday night so I can go to the caregiver support group. I've managed to go to three so far. Not sure I'll get to this week. Through it all even as I head back to my wonderful dad ( most likely laying in urine right now , sucks ) I feel grateful I can be there for him. It Is hard. Sometimes I feel crazy. But I know when all is said and done I would go through it again if I had the choice. It's love. He's my dad and he's worth all of the frustration and pain. ask me Tuesday and I'll probably be spot out of my head! Right now in hindsight I'm glad I can do this for him and yeah for me. How is that for crazy?!?

Yes Freqflyer, with all good intentions of finding time for ourselves, we always come back to square one. No one knows what it's like to walk in our shoes dealing with all the caregiving decisions... Yet, we do have to strive for find daily time (if possible) to find diversions/me time to counterbalance living for someone else. I certainly don't know the right answers, so while I try to recalibrate my thoughts and cargiving actions daily, I try to push myself to do little things for myself. Hoping to (push myself) to walk down to a block party tonight, while the weather is still good (summertime)... Also, trying to engage with people every chance I get (garage sales are a good way to meet new people... Some of which I have found out are caregiver's also, so we can relate and share thoughts).

Make time for myself? HA. At my age [will be 70 this year], if I get a hour for myself I find myself dozing off in front of the TV because I no longer have the energy to do anything else. Happiness now is getting a load of wash into the washer and dried :)

One would think that since my Mom had recently passed and Dad is now safely tucked into Assisted Living that I would have more free time. Nope, not in this life time.

My parents still have their house, thus that means going over there for a hour or two and sort through things to be thrown out, to be donated or to be sold in an estate sale. And that is when I come home after work.

Then comes bill paying. My Mom [98] took care of all of that, Dad [94] had no idea what bills came in, what bills were check written or were auto paid. So it is like I have a part-time job tossed unto my career.

I know people mean well when they say take time out for yourself. But if I did that I would be so back logged with chores here at home and at my parent's old house, I couldn't enjoy doing anything for myself.

That reminds me, I need to donate my parents car.... [sigh].

It's great to steal a hour away (if possible, and whenever possible) to get your nails done. Something about it makes you feel so pampered! Maybe you can schedule this activity in if it interest you. Or a pedicure....good foot soak, and nails painted! We know how much we are on the old feet, lol:)