A Positive Approach to New Year’s Resolutions
As 2023 comes to an end, many people create resolutions (a decision or determination) to change something in their lives. Often, it is a pledge to stop a negative behavior such as smoking or to lose weight, but actually, our brains respond much better to positive rather than negative concepts.
Caring for someone living with dementia is stressful and can feel overwhelming at times. By practicing self-determination, self-care, and positive self-talk, your confidence level improves and helps you to believe in positive outcomes. Below are tips that may help you get off to a great start for 2024.
- Rather than trying to stop correcting or arguing with your loved one, perhaps resolve to “be more compassionate.”
- Instead of “wishing” your family member wasn’t so restless, bored, or confused. Introduce activities you can enjoy together, such as yoga, art, music, dance, sensory stimulation, and reminiscence. These types of activities address the whole body and can help you and your loved one feel more comfortable and improve your quality of life. YouTube is an excellent resource for finding yoga or simple exercises you can do along with the video.
- Create a “gratitude” journal together. Studies show that people who practice gratitude are happier than those who do not.
- Practice positive self-talk. It can boost self-confidence and help us to believe that we can create successful outcomes.
- Be kinder to yourself. Avoid the trap of thinking about “things you think you do wrong” and focus on all the “good things you do.”
- Be intentional and write things down. Recognize the things you can’t control and tackle the things you can. This can help minimize stress.
- Spend time with your family members and friends who are supportive, and let go of those who criticize you or never offer help.
- Continue to learn new communication or engagement techniques to encourage well-being.
- Assess all aspects of your life and focus on positive changes in each area. Resolve to do “mother and daughter outings” or ‘husband and wife” activities, not just caregiving.
- Try respite care, whether in-home or in a memory care facility. A four-hour or eight-hour respite a couple of times a week or a weekend respite is key to living a life of quality and maintaining a positive relationship with your loved one. You can use an agency, or perhaps one or two friends could stay with your loved one to give you a break to do something for yourself.
- Join a support group. Belonging to a group that shares your same struggles can help with caregiver fatigue and promote overall well-being.
Happy New Year!
If you would like more information about our Memory Ministry, or our Monday morning Memory Cafe, please contact Vicky at vpitner@firstumc.org.