Take Some Time to Just BE
“In today’s rush, we all think too much - seek too much - want too much - and forget about the joy of just being.” ~ Eckhart Tolle
Our young adult son living with a traumatic brain injury came to me recently and proclaimed, “You and Dad are people that get things done!” I’m going to take that as a compliment. Yet, it does cause me to pause and contemplate my ongoing intention to spend less time focused on DOING and more time focused on BEING.
If there is anything that caregivers are good at, it’s DOING. Don’t you just LOVE being able to tick things off of a good to-do list? I think what feels good about DOING is that it gives me the feeling that I am in control of something, when the world around me feels out of control.
What about BEING? That takes more intentional work—to create a practice of BEING.
As I care for two aging parents at the moment—who are divorced, in two different locations—I can feel pulled in many different directions on any given day. Sometimes, I need to just DO. Yet, if you were to ask them what they NEED from me, they would absolutely say just to BE with them. The gift of time is all they want in this season of their lives.
I felt that 2024 went by in a blink of an eye—perhaps the “fastest” year in my life, mostly due to added caregiving responsibilities and lots of tumultuous challenges. So this year, my intention is to slow down. Pause (more). And find time to cherish the present moment, despite the demands of my caregiving responsibilities.
3 TOOLS TO CREATE A PRACTICE OF BEING PRESENT:
Deep Breathing and Meditation: Simple breathing techniques, such as box breathing (inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4), help reduce stress and bring focus to the present moment. Creating a practice of focus on your breath lowers anxiety, improves emotional regulation, and provides a quick reset during stressful caregiving moments. Check out our YouTube channel for 4 years of breathing practices and meditations for caregivers!
Grounding Techniques: The 5-4-3-2-1 method (name 5 things you see, 4 things you feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you taste) helps anchor you in the present. Techniques like this also reduce overwhelm, enhance awareness, and create a sense of calm amidst your caregiving duties.
Mindfulness Micro-Breaks: Taking just 1–5 minutes to pause, stretch, or savor a sip of hot tea with your full attention can create moments of mindfulness. Micro-breaks restore mental clarity, prevent burnout, and foster resilience throughout the day.
As caregivers, we often juggle multiple responsibilities, worrying about the past ("Did I do enough?") or the future ("What if things get worse?"), leaving little time for simply being—finding peace in the moment. If this sounds familiar to you, I invite you to pause, breathe, and appreciate small moments of connection and presence, rather than being consumed by stress, expectations, or the need to do more today.
Even amidst our most challenging days, we CAN find joy, strength, and inner calm, by just being present.