Creating Balance
When you look at the wheel of life, which points to how you're spending your time, what do you notice? Are you getting enough social connection, alone time, exercise or spiritual fulfillment? It can be especially challenging for you as a Raregiver to create balance in your life since so much of your focus is on your Rare child or children. Here are some reflections on how you can create balance in your daily life one small step at a time.
Working Out
Are you finding time to work out and move your body? Many Raregivers feel like they do not have time and may even describe this overwhelm as a sensation of drowning. When you have so many responsibilities, it can be difficult to create time and space to care for yourself. However, if you do not, you may discover that you are short fused. One of our participants spoke about things getting built up.You may experience a feeling of one thing stacking on top of another, which can lead to feeling resentful. Resentment can leak out as sharp comments or snapping at the people you love.
If you are feeling frustrated and your frustration is leaking out, something is off balance, and something needs to shift on the inside or on the outside. If you need to make an internal shift, which is to shift your mindset you might consider taking time for deep breathing, journaling, finding a good therapist, doing some movement and acknowledging yourself. Acknowledge yourself for what you are doing and what is working. Focus on the positive rather than noticing the many things on your list that you still have not done. Self-acknowledgement is healing and empowering and it gives you energy to continue.
Lighten Your Load
The process of creating balance in your life means handing things off. You can't do it all by yourself. You may be able to hand off some things to your husband or partner. Maybe you feel hesitant to do this or even have the thought, “he's not gonna do it right.” The truth is, he isn't going to do it the way you would do it and that's OK. Look at what you are willing to surrender. Maybe someone else can do some of the household chores. When you hand things off and enlist help this allows you to have time to unwind and take a shower before 1 am. When you delegate, you are taking care of yourself so that you can go to sleep earlier or perhaps take time to pamper yourself with a haircut or a manicure. The little things add up to creating a more balanced life. Take the time to get organized and create structures that will free up time and space for you.
Come Join Us
You are invited to join us for our weekly and monthly support groups. Our support groups are disease agnostic, and you will discover that although another Raregiver’s child may have a different Rare disease than your own, you will find that you have a lot in common with these amazing women and you can make new friends who really get you. You are welcome to drop in for a portion of the group if you cannot attend the whole thing. Come in your pajamas with unbrushed hair. Come as you are. We are here waiting for you.
You may not realize how much you need the Raregivers community until you find it.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88974713173
We look forward to being with you soon.
