Be SMART – Set a Self-Care Goal

Last week, we celebrated the first birthday of our three core programs – One-to-One Caregiver (Peer) Support, Breathing Meditation, and Support Groups. This week, we’re kicking off a New Year of programming curriculum with a focus on the benefits of self-care and goal-setting.
 
It seems like common sense that, in order to provide care, a caregiver must take care of him/herself first. But the truth is that we often tend to put our own needs last.
 
For some insight on why we are that way, here’s an article from one of our favorites, Mel Robbins. She says, “Whether you feel you don’t have the time to do something for yourself or you feel guilty when you do, scheduling time to be completely selfish is not part of your practice. … Most of your messaging in childhood trained you to believe that your role in life was to serve others. … But little mention is ever made about the energy required to expend all this effort. You can’t pour from an empty cup.” She offers a list of 16 ways to practice self-care.
 
So, it’s important that we prioritize our own well-being and happiness, particularly during periods of stress. (And remember, “Taking care of myself doesn’t mean ‘me first’. It means ‘me, too’.” – L. R. Knost.)
 
Here’s how to prioritize your self-care:

• Take responsibility for your needs.

• Set realistic expectations for yourself.

• Recognize what you can’t change.

• Communicate directly with others (no one is a mind-reader).

• Be willing to ask for help.

That last point is important. By asking for help, you give others the opportunity to help you. As a caregiver, you may not feel comfortable doing this, but it’s healthy to put down your own burden sometimes and let someone else carry it.
 
Once you’ve decided to prioritize your self-care, it’s important to set goals to achieve sustainable change. And as we begin our second year, we will incorporate monthly goal-setting into our programs.
 
One of the ways we evaluate our programs’ impact is by measuring the number of personal goals achieved. Personal goals don’t have to be elaborate or complicated. In fact, we encourage you to think about setting SMART goals, which are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely.
 
So, let’s start the year off right by setting a self-care goal. What’s something you could do for YOU this month?