Can Caregivers Rest? - Practical Health Tips to Help Caregivers REST!

Did you notice that "rest" is a four-letter word? I usually laugh when someone tells me I need to rest. And sleep! What is that? Rest can go a lot deeper than just sitting down for a couple of minutes or taking a nap. In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus invited weary souls to come to Him and find rest. He first says in verse 28 that He gives rest. Then in verse 29, He specifically says that in Him we will find rest for our souls. 

Hebrews 4:9 reminds us that God's people are promised rest. Our real work is to figure out how to rest in Him. We know He is our hiding place, our refuge, our shield, and our rock. Not one of these are a "place" in the natural that we go to physically. So, there must be more! 

There must be a place in Him where our souls can find rest, even if we don't physically rest. Jeremiah 31:25 gives us God's promise that He will satisfy the weary soul and He will replenish the sorrowful soul. (That's my new favorite scripture for today!) 

I'm pretty sure that we quickly and quite literally understand the weary soul and the sorrowful soul. But let's take a little deeper look at the Hebrew words used for "satisfy" and "replenish."

Ravah is the Hebrew word for satisfy. It is a primitive root that means to "slake the thirst." It can also mean to get drunk (but don't tell anyone I said that! Lol). It can also mean to soak with water abundantly. How about that! God can take our dry, thirsty souls and soak them in the water of the word so that we are pliable in His hands and totally satisfied with Him. 

The Hebrew word for replenish is Maw-law (male mala). It is also a primitive root, and it basically means to fill. It can be translated into English several ways: accomplish, confirm, consecrate, be fenced, filled, fulfilled, give fully, satisfy, gather, and replenish. I'm pretty sure God is the only one who can fill our souls back up!

Today, I will run to Him because I want Him to be the only thing that fills my soul back up! I want to be fully satisfied with God. I'll remind myself that He is the One I am trusting in, and He is trusting me to run back to Him. My prayers today will be that God gives our weary souls rest and that He replenishes the peace in our souls by His grace. Trusting Him to refill my soul is my theme today as I trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?

Tips for Physical Rest

The caregiving world is so crazy that it can be very difficult to rest and get things done. As a health coach, I know that rest is important, but as a caregiver, I'm like, yeah, right. When? Where? How? I've had to learn how to take 5 when I can. Here are a few tips to help you rest in the middle of your caregiving days.

1. Take 5. Maybe I should say - give yourself 5. Sometimes, I will just sit for five minutes. This is especially useful on days when everything is all crammed in together, and you feel you don't have room to breathe. Literally taking five minutes to refocus and recenter can give a little relief and help you clear your mind so you can take on the rest of the day.

 

2. Cup of Tea. I'm a coffee lover, but I love my teas, too. Sometimes, usually in the afternoon, I'll make a cup of tea and just sip it as it cools. It can be relaxing for the body and soul. If it's close to bedtime or naptime, you may want to try Chamomile tea since it tends to be calming and relaxing.

3. Sit Outside. If you can, take your loved one outside with you. It can be as simple as sitting on the porch and listening to the birds or feeling the wind. Nature tends to calm the soul. Take a few deep breaths while you are out there, and try not to think about stuff too much. Literally 3 minutes can bring some relief.

4. Deep Breathing. Taking a deep breath signals your brain and soul that everything is okay and it's time to relax. When you take a deep breath, your muscles can actually involuntarily relax. There are a few apps that can help you take a minute of deep breathing exercises. My Apple watch has it. It can be very calming, and you don't need an app.

5. Be Minimalist. If you are like me, there is no respite, so there's not even a moment that you can take off from caregiving. While I cannot literally take time off, sometimes, I give myself a couple of hours or an afternoon off from the mental lifting needed for caregiving. I will do the minimum tasks that must be done, like putting Chris to bed or getting him up. I will let him sit in the recliner and rest while I refuse to make decisions or work. It can be a little relief to just do only what has to be done and let the rest go for a few minutes.

6. Read. Taking a few minutes to read a chapter in a book can really free the mind by giving you something else to think about. Try to read something fun and not something about caregiving or self-help! lol.

7. Movie Night. I do this when there is something I've been waiting to stream. Sometimes, it's somethign Chris might like, but other times, it's what I want and he is nonverbal, so he'll just have to suck it up! lol 

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Affirmations for Caregivers

I wrote Affirmations for Caregivers because it was what I needed to hear! This 31-day journal includes 31 scripturally based affirmations. Each day, the affirmation is followed by a short writing prompt and a verse or two to read. I also have videos on YouTube that coincide with each day's affirmation.