What activities, as a caregiver, do at home to relax, be centered, maintain friendships, workout?

Yoga, for stretching and helping balance, and taking deep breaths to relax.
TED talks on the internet, to stimulate my mind. Amazing.
Knitting, I do baby hats and booties for the NICU at a hospital. quick projects, so I don't lose patience.
My husband is newly diabetic, so I am trying new recipes.That takes a bit of internet research.

And this Christmas, since there are no current health emergencies, I am trying to write each person in my life a very nice card, telling them how special they are...and if they are far away, some catch up news on our lives.

I buy wine kits and make my own, 30 bottles in a kit. Really fun and makes nice presents for the holidays.

Genealogy! I find this more relaxing and great to later discuss with your parent. Even if they can't offer any help - just discussing relatives and their past really brings you together. There are many books and web sites to help you. Many free sites and of course, paying sites.... I also do rubber stamping and crafts (that I share with the residents of nursing facilities). We have been making all types of cards for their loved ones... Best of luck!!

I have built a tremendous patio and garden. The physical element is a great way to relieve stress. Being outdoors is we're I've always belonged. It also gives me a sense of personal accomplishment. Not to mention mom can enjoy the follower ing trees and flowers.

I do anything I can that I like when I get the moment, go outdoors when the weather permits, read a little, watch some TV or sports, meditate, breathing exercises. I have been under tremendous pressure with my Mom being bedridden at my home, my husband is ill again and may need to go to the hospital, and I went blind in one eye and had surgery for that! (We are only in our 50s!).
Since I am recovering from retinal detachment surgery, I have found those adult coloring books to be relaxing and it has helped in my eye recovery too! I can do this while listening to music or a TV program.

I also treat myself to a massage or foot rub when i can. I find even 15 minutes really helps. I see others mentioned coloring books. I had bought them for my mom but while it's hard to get her to engage, i find it quite relaxing! Even if my mom isn't in the mood to color, she seems to be ok just watching me so it works for us both. The only problem is it doesn't happen too often so i take what i can get

All the suggestions are good but what it comes down to is what are you interested in or enjoyed doing before being a caregiver. Whatever your hobbies were before caregiving you have to make time to do those things you once enjoyed. This is also a time to explore something you may have wanted to try doing at home. I teach a class called Powerful Tools for Caregivers which is about us taking care of ourselves and therefore it helps us to be better caregivers. The weekly action plans that we have the class work on in setting a goal is not to say I am going to walk 7 days a week and then you only walk two days and you feel like you failed. Be realistic and say to yourself "I will walk two days for 1/2 an hour" If you walk more great but two days you probably will be able to achieve that. So try something you wanted to do or have done in the past but be realistic about how often.

We have a neighborhood social network called Nextdoor site which is nationwide (if you don't have one, I believe you can start on for you r neighborhood..This is a easy way to engage with your neighbors and start many social events while knowing what's happening in your neighborhood (and the immediate surrounding neighborhoods). Our neighborhood site now has about 50% that has joined... Every topic is discussed like garage sales, theater events, cargiving, jobs, dog walking, crime, etc). I highly recommend checking this out.

I always had the desire to get a college degree, but over the years never had the opportunity to attend college except for a class here and there. When I became a caregiver for my blind and ill husband and became housebound, I attended credit classes at the local community college (one at a time), and also signed up for Online college courses. The challenge of the assignments and interacting with other students and teachers focused and balanced me. In due time I earned an Associate's Degree in General Studies. I was in my mid-70's by this time and was retired so it didn't add to my work resume', but I had tremendous satisfaction from making one of my longtime dreams come true. A younger person in the work force could benefit from having a degree. The years pass swiftly, and in my case, at the end of 6 or 7 years, I had earned my degree.

When Mom wasn't home, I'd make a special meal for my girlfriend on "full service" dates. Let's admit it: a little loving improves your attitude and complexion. Your disposition towards caregiving is more positive, and there's a bounce on your step. There was nothing like taking a long bubble bath with your honey, and talk the most intimate things. Yes people, because relationships take a lot of work if you want them to last. Mom was a bingo freak. Really competitive. So on weekends I'd give her $150 to go knock herself out at the church across the street. I'd take the time to snuggle with my girlfriend and watch Lifetime. Television for women? Ha! There's a lot of us boys who watch and sometimes weep.