The start of a new year offers us a natural pause – time to reflect on the past and consider what went well and what changes we’d like to make for the coming year. For caregivers, this reflection can be especially important. The challenges of caregiving are relentless – there’s rarely a natural lull in time that offers enough reprieve to reflect. Though the role can be overwhelming at times, taking the time to set clear goals for yourself and your caregiving responsibilities can help reduce stress, improve well-being, and provide a sense of purpose long term.
In this article, we’ll explore how you can set meaningful goals and resolutions as a caregiver. Let’s make sure you start the new year with a balanced approach – one that considers both your own needs and the needs of the person you care for.
1. Reflect on the Past Year
Before setting goals for the year ahead, as we touched on, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on your caregiving journey over the past year. This review will help you identify what worked well and where you might want to make changes. Consider these questions:
- What aspects of caregiving did you feel you handled well?
- What’s a key accomplishment you made last year? For example, learning to administer insulin shots, better delegating tasks, or finding a good specialist.
- Were there areas where you felt overwhelmed or stressed?
- Did you have enough time for yourself and your own needs? Where could you cut back or delegate better?
- What tasks do you dread most? Which do you most look forward to?
This process of reflection will give you a clearer picture of what changes might help you feel more balanced and supported in the year ahead. Be kind to yourself during this process. It’s normal to face challenges, and acknowledging them is the first step in making positive changes.
2. Setting Personal Caregiving Goals
As a caregiver, it’s easy to put your needs aside while focusing on the person you care for. However, it’s essential to set personal caregiving goals that prioritize your health and well-being. Here are a few areas to focus on:
Physical and Emotional Health
Your physical health is the foundation of being a great caregiver. If you’re exhausted or feeling unwell, it can be harder to provide the care your loved one needs. Some common goals to improve your overall health include:
- Scheduling regular exercise, even if it’s just a daily walk.
- Getting enough sleep—aim for 7-8 hours a night.
- Eating nutritious meals that fuel your body and energy levels.
- Practicing relaxation techniques, like deep breathing or meditation, to manage stress.
It’s also important to care for your emotional health. As a caregiver, you may experience a range of emotions, from frustration and guilt to compassion and joy. Consider setting goals related to your emotional well-being, such as:
- Journaling to process your feelings.
- Seeking professional support through therapy or counseling.
- Finding time for hobbies or activities that bring you joy.
Time Management
Caregivers are responsible for such a wide range of tasks – from managing medications to coordinating doctor’s appointments – that time can easily slip away from you. Setting goals for better time management can help you feel more organized and reduce your overall daily stress. Some ideas might include:
- Creating a daily or weekly schedule for caregiving tasks. For example, you can put a magnetic calendar and pen on your refrigerator to ensure you have a quick place to jot down appointment details – one that you’ll be forced to look at frequently.
- Setting aside specific time for yourself—whether that’s for exercise, hobbies, or relaxation.
- Learning to delegate tasks when possible (for example, asking a family member to help with chores or errands).
Support Network
Having a strong support system is critical. Caregiving can be emotionally and physically draining; no one should do it alone. This year, focus on building or strengthening your support network. Consider setting goals like:
- Reaching out to family or friends to ask for help when needed.
- Calling a friend once a week.
- Joining a local or online caregiver support group.
- Connecting with community resources or professional caregivers to share the load.
- Getting coffee once a month with someone you love.
3. Setting Practical Caregiving Goals
Along with personal care-related goals, setting practical goals is also a good idea. This helps ensure that your loved one’s needs are met, and it can also make your daily caregiving routine more manageable.
Care Recipient’s Health
Consider setting specific health-related goals for your loved one. This might include things like:
- Scheduling regular doctor’s appointments and keeping better track of medical records.
- Creating a daily routine that supports their physical and mental health (you can talk to their medical care team for ideas on how to best handle this).
- Setting goals to increase their step count each day or veggie intake, for example.
Home Environment
A well-organized and safe living space can make caregiving much easier. Some practical goals might include:
- Setting a goal date for ensuring the home is free of hazards, like removing tripping risks, taping down lose wires, replacing or removing curling rugs, adding hallway or night lights, and adding assistive devices like grab bars if necessary.
- Organizing the living area to make daily tasks more efficient (e.g., creating a medication station or easy-to-access storage for essential items).
- Adjusting the home’s layout if mobility issues are a concern, for example, adding wheelchair ramps, to create a more comfortable and functional environment.
Financial Planning
Caregiving often involves unexpected expenses. It’s helpful to set financial goals for the year ahead, such as:
- Creating and sticking to a budget for caregiving-related costs (e.g., medications, medical supplies, home modifications).
- Setting a deadline for researching and applying for financial assistance options, such as government programs or insurance benefits that may be available to you.
- Setting up a savings plan for long-term caregiving needs, including future medical or in-home care costs.
4. Creating Sustainable Resolutions
Now that you’ve set your goals, it’s time to think about how to make them achievable and sustainable. One helpful framework for goal-setting is the SMART method, which stands for:
Specific: All goals should be clear and well-defined.
Measurable: You should be able to track your progress.
Achievable: It should be realistic based on your available time and resources.
Relevant: It goal should align with your caregiving priorities.
Time-bound: Set a timeline for when you want to achieve your goal.
For example, rather than setting a vague goal like “take better care of myself,” you could set a SMART goal like “exercise for 30 minutes three times a week before I feed my loved one breakfast for the next three months.”
Don’t forget to track your progress. Whether it’s through a journal, a digital planner, or a goal-setting app, tracking helps you stay focused and motivated – for example, keeping up a success streak (like 10 days of fun reading in a row). If you find that a goal is too difficult or unrealistic, don’t hesitate to adjust it. Flexibility is key.
Closing Thoughts: Setting Caregiving Goals and Resolutions
Remember when setting your goals this year that it’s not about perfection, it’s about progress. Take one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or to adjust your goals when needed. By focusing on your goals and staying compassionate with yourself, you can navigate the year ahead with confidence and resilience.
If want help finding resources for yourself or a family caregiver in your life, the California Caregiver Resource Centers are here to support you. We are a non-profit network of 11 Centers that support caregivers across the state of California. Every county in the state is covered.
Keep Reading: Celebrating 40 Years of CRC: California Caregiver Resource Centers Through the Decades
For 40 years, the California Caregiver Resource Centers (CRC) have been a critical lifeline to family caregivers. CRC is more than just a network of Centers—it’s a comprehensive support system for these unsung heroes. Each of the 11 CRCs throughout California provides services tailored to the unique needs of the families and communities they serve.
Click here to learn more about our history: Celebrating 40 Years of CRC: California Caregiver Resource Centers Through the Decades
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