One Word to Start Your Journal

On Saturday, I presented a workshop at a Family Caregivers Conference in Gwinnett County, just outside of Atlanta. My presentation, “Secret Stress Buster—Embracing Limits,” helped attendees understand the importance of recognizing their limits in caregiving. We think we have an infinite amount of patience or tolerance or strength or compassion. We are perfectly imperfect, which means we have...

This Week: Selfish is good!

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is tip No. 23.) You spend most of your day being self-less. It may seem out of character to feel selfish.  But, for your own well-being, it’s critical to be selfish during the day, even if for five minutes. This week, write down your ideas on how to spend time on you and how...

This Week: Letting Go

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is tip No. 23.) Caregiving has brought so many changes in your life that you may find yourself holding onto parts of your old life–old relationships, old habits, old expectations. At one time, it probably was comforting to hold onto to these parts of your old life. But, at some...

This Week, Put Priorities in Order

If you could take just a carload of your possessions, what you would take? Consider this question this week, jotting down your thoughts in your journal. Your answers will give insight into your priorities, perhaps overlooked priorities. As you gain insight into your priorities, you’ll also gain knowledge of the relationships, interests and hobbies that are deserving of your time. When you spend your time on...

This Week, Write the Life You Want

Image by Barnaby via Flickr It’s often said that the first step toward creating the life you want is visualizing the life you want. This week, visualize, then write, the life you want. Ignore any pangs of guilt about the life you want, simply sit back, relax and picture yourself living the life you want. Re-visit this picture regularly. Then, write what you see: Where you...

This Week, Just Write

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is tip No. 20.) Your journal is yours; it reflects your darkest fears, your deepest feelings, your delicious diversions. Even better, your journal always keeps a secret. This week, just write; write how you feel (the truth!), how you manage, how you worry, how you wish for “better”...

This Week, Write about Your Perspective

Image by incurable_hippie via Flickr (Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is tip No. 19.) It’s hard not to see everything with a negative perspective because so many negative things have happened. Surrounded by so much negativity, it can seem that you’re just doing everything wrong. You’re not. You’re doing your best,...

This Week, Consider What You’ve Gained

Image by paperbackwriter via Flickr (Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is tip No. 18.) In a caregiving situation, it’s hard not to think about all that you’ve lost, particularly because the losses are so much in your face (you’ve “lost” time, relationships, money and your care recipient seems to have lost...

This Week, Consider the Qualities of the Friends You Want

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is tip No. 17.) A friend walks in when the whole world walks out. ~  Walter Winchell In times of need, there’s nothing like a good, supportive friend to help you through the struggles. But, the difficult times are often the times you discover the friends you thought you could count on, aren’t. This...

This Week: Write About Your Wisdom

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is tip No. 16.) The wisdom gained from caregiving is wisdom that can be applied to all aspects of your life. Consider the Wisdom of Caregiving: 1. That your gut is always right. 2. That life is short, so you must make the most of each moment. 3. That possessions and material things take you only so far in life;...

This Week, Own It

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is tip No. 15.) You’re having a really bad day—because your care recipient is having a really, really, really bad day. No matter where you look, you just seem to see red. You didn’t want it to happen, but it did: You lost your temper (really, really lost it) with your...

This Week, Plant Your Seeds

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is tip No. 14.)   Caregiving means you concentrate on each moment—because you know each moment brings a new challenge. Having to adjust to each moment, though, can be exhausting.   This week, think beyond your moments and journal about your future. What do you envision for yourself in two years, five...

This Week, Wonder about the Storms You’ve Weathered

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is tip No. 13.) This week, take some time to consider the storms that you’ve weathered–the battles to find a good health care provider, to get help, to find support, to get along with your care recipient. It’s amazing how many storms you’ve weathered. Taking time to document those...

This Week, Write Letters To Those You Love

Image via Wikipedia (Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is tip No. 12.) This week, our exercise actually focuses outside your journal. This week, rather than writing in your journal, write letters to those you love. In your letters, write about what you love, what you admire and what you’ve learned from those loved ones. And, share your...

This Week, Make Time for You

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is our eleventh tip.) The aches of caregiving can seem to permeate your body: Your heart aches, your head aches, you bones ache. Even worse, your heart and spirit seem to be filled with pain. Just as you bathe your body’s aches and pains, consider how you can bathe your...

This Week, Give Thought to Your Breaks

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is our tenth tip.) You’d like to make the most of the time you have for yourself (even if only five minutes in the day), but somehow it seems that the time gets away from you–and you feel like you’ve lost it. This week, jot down ideas of how you’d like...

This Week, Give Thanks for Your Gifts

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is our ninth tip.) You share your gifts with the world every day: Your kindness, your generosity, your problem-solving ability, your crisis management skills. You may wonder: What am I getting in return? You receive just as many gifts as you give. The gifts you receive may be subtle and...

This Week, Write About What You Need

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is our eight tip.) You can recite, without really even thinking, the needs of your care recipient (personal care, socialization, activities, financial, transportation, medical). What do you need? Do you need more help with hands-on care?  Do you need more emotional support? Do you need a vacation? A weekend...

This Week, Write About What Works

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is our seventh tip.) It’s hard to see all you do well, especially because so many losses accompany your caregiving experience. You are doing so much right: Advocating on your care recipient’s behalf, persistently seeking help, doing your best in all situations and circumstances. This week, write about...

This Week, Delve into Your Daydreams

(Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is our sixth tip.) Your imagination, which shows itself to you in your daydreams, is the key to your soul. This week, let your daydreams sweep you away. And, then write in your journal where your daydreams took you. Writing down your daydreams gives them the power to become your...

This Week, Set Your Intention

Image via Wikipedia (Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is our fifth tip.) Where do you want your caregiving role to lead you? You and your care recipient? Your family? This week, give thought to your intention about your caregiving role and its impact on you and your relationships. What do you intend to create in these relationships because...

This Week, Tell Your Truth

Image by Barnaby via Flickr (Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is our fourth tip.) There are truths to your caregiving situation that you may find difficult to voice. The truth about your fears, your concerns, your heartache. These are important truths for you to tell. This week, tell them to your journal. Write freely about your truth as it...