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, 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, 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, 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, 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...

This Week, Document Your Dreams

Image by Creativity+ Timothy K Hamilton via Flickr (Editor’s Note: On Wednesdays, we share a journaling tip as part of our series, Journaling 101. This is our third tip.) It may seem that your dreams are lost because you would never dream this life. But, what if…. what if this life today is what you need to live your dreams of tomorrow? What if your future dreams build from your today? In your...

This Week, Document The Beginning

Image by sushi♥ina via Flickr (Editor’s Note: Tired of staring at a blank sheet of paper? Bloated by negative emotions that won’t go away? This week, we debut a new column of journal exercises, offering suggestions and ideas to keep your journal entries flowing and your negative emotions leaving.) You’ve got the blank diary in front of you. You want to start writing, but you’re not sure where...

Two Lists & Two Journals

A family caregiver in a support group once shared what she considered to be a shameful secret. A friend gives her regular breaks, for which she is immensely grateful. The problem? She has no idea what to do with her extra time. Oh, boy, is that common! Your day is so full of action and worries that downtime can seem to doom you. No worries—we’ve got a great suggestion. Create two lists, Job Jar and When...