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Balancing Work, Caregiving, and Self-Care: Practical Tips for Family Caregivers

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For family caregivers supporting an aging parent or relative, senior caregiving challenges rarely arrive one at a time. Between work deadlines, appointments, medication questions, and the ongoing pull of personal responsibilities, work-caregiver-personal life balance can feel like a daily no-win decision. That constant tug-of-war feeds emotional stress in caregivers, especially when sleep, relationships, and spiritual time keep getting pushed aside. When the days run on autopilot, caregiver burnout can start to look like the only predictable outcome. There are ways to steady the pace and protect energy without adding more guilt. Quick Key Takeaways Prioritize time management for caregivers by identifying essentials and protecting focused time for what matters most. Lean on a caregiver support network by asking for help and sharing responsibilities with trusted people. Explore flexible work options by discussing schedules, remote work, or adjusted duties to reduce daily strain. Consider...
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Rock Solid

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I would ask you if you ever feel overwhelmed, but I'm pretty sure what your answer would be after you stopped laughing. Caregiving can create such a sense of overwhelm it's hard to see out from underneath it. As my friend (I mentioned yesterday) and I were talking, I heard her say something I've said thousands of times I'm behind on everything.  And the other part is that these feelings rarely go away.  I took an overloaded heart to bed last night. My last thoughts and breaths last night were prayers on how and what I can change to make things less overwhelming for me. I know  something needs to change, but what and how? With all these thoughts running through my head, I found myself crying out to God again. It really is a wonder that He never tires of us running to Him. I have this mental image of myself with my arms loaded full of stuff, inching my way to Him. He never disappoints. I love that God doesn't disqualify my overwhelm. He never tells me that I brought i...
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The Last Straw

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 Earlier this morning, I was talking to a friend who's been caring for her mom for the last few years. We were talking about the overwhelm of caregiving. I said, "There's a special armor for caregivers!" I know there is an extra measure of grace for us. There just has to be.  Paul wasn't a caregiver like us, but he did have a lot on his plate, caring for the early church. In fact, it's in 2 Corinthians 11 where he mentions it. He's giving a list of things God has brought him through; maybe he's encouraging himself a little like David did. He's listing shipwrecks, beatings, traveling miles and miles, and more.  Then in verse 28, he says, then besides all this , I have the daily burden of how the churches are getting along. (NLT) Sounds like a caregiver to me. Personally, as I'm running through my list of the day, the needs, the situations, there is almost always an emphatic, PLUS ... But as Paul is going through his experiences, he wraps it all ...
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Dare to Hope

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 One of my favorite passages is in Lamentations 3. We talk a lot about how God's mercies are new every morning. Now, God doesn't have a morning, so He must push that refresh button just for our mornings!  As I was looking at this passage last week, I backed up a bit and camped in a verse or two before that one. The NLT says, The thought of my suffering and moelessness is bitter beyond words. (V.19) Have you ever been in that spot? Those times when the living grief, or loss, has eaten up both your emotions and your words? I call those times, sit, drink coffee, stare at the wall times.  But the writer didn't stop there. He goes on to say, I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Boy, can I relate to that. There are days when my memories are nice and friendly, other days they rip at my heart and I struggle with my emotions. It's a little bit comforting to know that God used this writer and he felt these same types of emotions without judgment or conde...
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Empty-Handed?

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Do you ever just feel empty? You know, those days when there doesn't seem to be any strength to dig deeper and make the day happen? I think as caregivers, we all face those times. And sometimes, there are seasons of empty feelings. Whether they come sporadically or they camp for a while, feeling empty emotionally, drained physically, and overwhelmed mentally can be hard to deal with. In the first few verses of 2 Kings 4, we find the story of a widow. Her husband had been in the School of the Prophets, possibly mentored by Elisha. After he passed, she found herself overcome with debt. In that day, family members could be taken as slaves to work off debts.  She had just lost her husband and was most likely still grieving the loss. Now, they are threatening to take her sons as slaves to pay off the father's debt. She came to the prophet, Elisha, for help. He answered her with a simple, seemingly unrelated question. What do you have in the house? Her first response tells us a lot a...
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New Caregivers Should Use This Guide To Maintain Their Own Wellness

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Caring for someone else—whether it’s a parent, partner, child, or friend—can feel like stepping into a new identity overnight. New caregivers are people who have recently taken on regular responsibility for another person’s health, safety, or daily needs, often with little preparation. The role is meaningful, but it can also be draining in quiet, cumulative ways. That’s why self-care isn’t optional here; it’s foundational. A quick grounding moment before we go further Caring well starts with staying well. Small, repeatable actions can protect your energy, steady your emotions, and help you feel like yourself again—not just “the caregiver.” Why self-care feels hard (and why it matters anyway) Problem: New caregivers often put their own needs last. Time shrinks. Guilt grows. Rest feels indulgent. Solution: Redefine self-care as maintenance , not luxury. It’s how you keep showing up without burning out. Result: More patience, clearer thinking, and a steadier emotional basel...
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The Simple Things

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 Sometimes, it's the simplest things that can mean the most. For caregivers, it may be when someone acknowledges the struggle in our journey. Maybe it's a simple phone call from an old friend, it doesn't even have to be very long! One memory comes to mind as I sit writing this.  It was Mother's Day, and I had just been up to see my mom, who had dementia. On the way home, I decided that Chris and I would stop by a lake for some time in nature. I felt so swallowed up by life in that moment. I'd spent time with my mom, which was, as you know, so difficult when they are not really who they used to be. Then it was just Chris and me.  I was lonely. I was hurting. It's difficult to be caught between two generations. One disappearning before my very eyes and the other needing full-time care. But as I was pushing Chris' chair up the hill to the lake overview, a kind stranger was leaving. We nodded as we passed each other on the trail. Then, he stopped. He turned arou...
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