Renewal: Doing what brings you joy can calm your nerves, decrease your heart rate, and improve your mood. Pursuing what you love can be rejuvenating.
Energy: Balancing the responsibilities in your life can drain you of energy. But taking a break can allow you to re-energize and be more effective in what you do.
Space: Distancing yourself from your situation—even for just a few hours—gives you the chance to be ‘off’ for a while, so you can relax and be at ease.
Pleasure: No matter what our responsibilities, everyone has the right to enjoy life. Having time to do as you please allows for purposeful, fulfilled living.
Identity: You are more than just your loved one’s caregiver. It’s important to maintain your sense of self and take care of your personal needs and desires.
Time Away: Spending time away from caregiving can allow you to see things more clearly and gain a better perspective. Having time to rest can even help you think of new ideas or resources.
Engagement: Caregivers suffer from social isolation as much as their loved ones do. It’s important to spend time with your friends and family and keep your social ties healthy.
