Balancing Self Care & Support

Care and support workers play an important role in our society. They look after those who need it most, assisting with daily activities and providing service users with the support needed to live as independently as possible.

Caring for others is admirable and selfless, not to mention incredibly difficult at times. That’s why it’s important to consider how carers can look after themselves to avoid running on empty, ensuring they have enough in the tank to care for someone else and themselves. 

We’re going to take a look at what makes self care challenging, why it’s important and how to prioritise it. 

Why is self care important?

A lot of the time, the self part of self care can make people feel like they’re being selfish when they attend to their own needs. This is never the case, though it is definitely a reason why self care gets moved down people’s lists of priorities. 

Another reason people struggle with self care is the belief that it only entails pampering - doing your hair nice, using face masks etc. However, this isn't always the case. Self care is much more about taking actions and decisions that keep you in good health both mentally and physically. 

Self care is essential as you can’t fill from an empty cup, or run your car without fuel. People who are run down both mentally and physically can tend to struggle facing life's daily challenges. When an individual neglects their own needs, they won’t be in the best position to meet their care responsibilities of others. 

Tips to help prioritise your wellbeing

Carers and support workers often have busy and demanding lives, which means that finding time for self care can be difficult. Self care must be considered a non negotiable. Even if it is high up on your list of priorities, it can still be challenging to make enough time for self care. Setting boundaries when it comes to taking breaks is an essential skill that you’ll need for looking after yourself. 

Once you begin prioritising and setting boundaries, you’ll notice some space where you’ll be able to delegate tasks, whether at home or elsewhere. Sharing the responsibilities you carry with co-workers, friends and family can help a ton, meaning you don’t have to carry the load all of the time. 

When it comes to prioritising self care, communication is key. You need to identify your self care priorities, such as breaks, some quiet time or the ability to go for a peaceful walk a few times a week. You then need to set boundaries around those priorities and communicate them to others, such as not taking on anymore tasks if you’re busy or by not agreeing to unrealistic time scales for tasks to be completed. You will then be able to lighten the load by finding other ways to do tasks, removing any unnecessary work or seeing if a colleague or family member can support where appropriate. 

Physical and emotional self care

Caring for an individual can be physically demanding, often requiring considerable effort to assist them with daily activities such as mobility. Over time, such activities can cause physical strain and fatigue, leading to potential health problems and fatigue. 

Carers and support workers can look after their physical health by speaking to healthcare experts regarding exercises that help reduce long term mobility issues or by maintaining a nutritious diet that can be easily followed. Other ways of boosting physical health include attending routine check ups and appointments to ensure you’re in the best shape possible, and creating a calming, restful environment where you can recover from the day and improve the quality of your sleep. 

On the flipside, carers can experience high levels of stress and anxiety, often worsening the mental state. The responsibility and the emotional toll can sometimes lead to burnout, which will present itself as either physical or mental exhaustion. 

By observing proper self care, emotional wellbeing can be both preserved and protected. Carers could introduce mindfulness practices and meditation in their work as tools to help reduce stress and bolster emotional resilience. Staying connected with friends and family also helps, as well as joining support groups or online communities where carers can share experiences and advice. Spending time in nature, spending time on hobbies and staying hydrated throughout the day will also help improve your mental wellbeing; self care looks different for everyone. 

Having a support network can help make self care possible. Your network could include friends, family and co-workers. Remembering to lean on them, communicate and get support when needed can help you find the energy to help yourself. If you have a limited support network, you can always join in community activities or online forums, allowing you to connect with like minded individuals to help build your network. 

Getting the right balance

Getting the right balance

When you are a care and support worker, you want to do the best for the people you care for; this can often make it difficult to switch off. However, remembering to take breaks, enjoying your hobbies and looking after your body and mind is vital. You have to meet your own needs before you’ll be in a position to meet anyone else’s. 

Caring is often a long term commitment, sometimes lasting several years. To sustain this level of commitment, carers and support workers need to maintain good physical and emotional wellbeing. Without self care, the risk of burnout increases, which can lead to the carer being unable to fulfil their role, thereby compromising the support system of the person in need. 

Making yourself a priority means setting boundaries, delegating tasks and asking for support when you need it. Although this may feel challenging, you’ll soon start to see and feel the differences it makes, and so will those you care for. Your ability to listen, show compassion and be resilient will increase, making daily tasks a pleasure and not a chore. 

Here at The SKA Group Ltd, we strive in giving the best possible service with the best possible outcomes for both carers and service users alike. Are you interested in being part of a team who are always looking out for one another, empowering you to be the best you can be? We have several support worker roles available - send us a message and see if we can find the perfect role for you!