3 Emotions You Should Let Go

By Roz Jones

Emotions are part of our everyday lives when we are caring for a sick or aging loved one. None of us will go through a day without experiencing some kind of emotion, be it fear, anger, happiness, or joy. Some caregivers have a hard time navigating negative emotions instead of feeling them and letting them go.

As a caregiver if you tend to hold onto your negative emotions, you may find that your life is affected, including your relationships. It can hinder the pursuit of goals. If left alone long enough, you may look back on your life with regret at the wasted years.

Release these 3 Emotions for Greater Personal Growth

There is a time for experiencing all of your emotions. You don’t want to get stuck in the quagmire of these three negative emotions, however:

Regret: Who hasn’t second-guessed their decisions? Maybe you are going through some financial stress, and you wish you didn’t buy that expensive new truck. You might wish you would have chosen a different career or spouse. You will regret some of your choices; however, you don’t want to get stuck looking back so much that you stop living in the present and planning for your future. It’s okay to look back and feel the emotion, but don’t stop there. Learn the lesson, and move on with your life.

Anger: Getting mad happens. You may have an off day and yell at your kids or partner for a simple mistake. Other times, you might have a good reason to be mad, but you refuse to work through it. Instead, you want to hang on and carry a grudge. Anger affects your health. It also pushes your loved ones away. Don’t let anger control your life and reduce your chances of future happiness. Learn healthy mechanisms to control your outbursts. Extend forgiveness, even if the other person doesn’t ask for it. You are releasing the pain that has been defining you. That is a huge step in personal growth.

Disappointment: This close cousin to regret, disappointment is directed at other people when they don’t live up to your expectations. For example, your co-worker failed to do their part for the upcoming presentation. You may be a little mad, but you are disappointed because you have always known them to be reliable. Living in a constant state of disappointment will affect your relationships. You may come across as cynical and push people away from you. Understand that people will disappoint you, but you don’t have to turn your disappointment into distrust. It’s critical to offer some grace and move on.

You will always have to handle your emotions. But when they threaten to overwhelm your happiness, it is time to let them go.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are you a Caregiver taking care of two loved ones? Did you check out Part 1? Check out Part 2 to hear more from Caregiver, Christine Psalms and how she takes care of both of her parents!

Christine Psalms continues her story with us in this episode.

As a caregiver for both her parents, Christine shares:

1. How she worked on herself to prepare to be her father’s caregiver
2. How therapy, counseling, and journaling changed her life as a caregiver
3. Navigating relationships with loved ones without resentment.

Listen Now!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTENTION: INSTAGRAM UPDATE!!!

Thank you for your patience with me as I attempted to gain access to my Instagram account @rozjonesenterprises! Unfortunately, I have been prompted to create a NEW Instagram account.

Be sure to follow my new Instagram page @rozcaregiverconsulting and check out my top business mistakes as a Business Owner!

(Click the link above to access my new Instagram page with ease!)

We’re beginning to launch into new territory with the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Caregiver Connection! The Caregiver Connection is a network for family caregivers that provides care for child(ren) or elderly and Roz Jones has been invited to speak on August 3rd! We are honored to share the same space!

How to Let Go of Past Grudges

By Roz Jones

If we look back over our lives as caregivers, we can reflect on this question. Who hasn’t been hurt by someone? Maybe your spouse cheated on you. Maybe your best friend from high school stole your boyfriend. Maybe you have a co-worker who is stealing your ideas or a boss who bullies you. Worse, you might have experienced trauma from physical, mental, or other forms of abuse. As time passes, some wounds don’t heal, and when that happens, you could end up carrying a grudge. Grudges are those leftover feelings of anger and resentment that prevent you from growing as a person. It’s time we let go and move beyond our pasts.

Tips to Let Go of Grudges and Get Your Life Back

Holding a grudge is often an indication of unforgiveness. It can tear at your soul and corrode your physical and emotional health. It can affect all of your current and future relationships as a caregiver. Take the needed steps to release the grudge and gain your life back:

Establish Why You Are Holding the Grudge: You need to determine what the problem is so that it can be forgiven. Sometimes, you will find that the offense is not worth the grudge. Other times, you will know precisely what is causing the pain.
Consider the Benefits of Forgiveness: Choosing to forgive does not mean you forget, nor does it mean that the other person won. Instead, it means you let go of the resentment holding you back from living your life fully.
Acknowledge Your Emotions: Avoid stuffing the emotions down. Use a journal if you want, but take some time to examine your feelings about the harm you received. Also, think about how this affects your behavior and your relationships.
Look at it from Their Perspective: This will not always apply depending on the harm done. However, try putting yourself in their shoes. Under similar circumstances, would you have done the same thing to them?
Talk with the Other Party: Open communication can remedy some grudges simply. If you believe it will help, approach the other party to see if they will talk with you.
Release the Victimhood: Choose to accept what happened and your feelings about it. You don’t have to wait for an apology. (HINT: You may never get one.) Instead, stop playing the ‘wounded one’ card and take back your life by healing, releasing the anger and the grudge.
Avoid Dwelling: This may be the most challenging part, but it is critical. Once you choose to forgive, don’t look back. Avoid dwelling on the situation. If others want to bring it up, change the subject. Your healing is worth it.

Grudges don’t need to define you as a person. Let go of the past and spring forward to your new life by releasing resentments today.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Follow My Pinterest to Stay Updated On Tips About Caregiving!

(Click the link below to follow my Pinterest Account)

Follow!

____________________________________________________________________________________

ATTENTION: INSTAGRAM UPDATE!!!

Thank you for your patience with me as I attempted to gain access to my Instagram account @rozjonesenterprises! Unfortunately, I have been prompted to create a NEW Instagram account.

Be sure to follow my new Instagram page @rozcaregiverconsulting!

(Click the link above to access my new Instagram page with ease!)

Enjoy Family Fun for Free with a Summer Staycation

By Roz Jones

The annual summer vacation is a treasured family tradition that ensures family fun and relaxation. These days, the cost of a family get-away can seem astronomical due to the expense of vacation, entertainment and accommodations. Also some Caregivers may not be able to leave the home for vacation due to their loved ones diagnosis.

However, you can avoid the cost and fuss of travel and lodging by making the most of your home. By prepping your home, you can create a fun, vacation-like atmosphere that’s relaxing for you and your client or loved one.

Staycations also allow you to vacation with your pets and other family members in a place that’s familiar and comforting for them, reducing stress on your furry friends and the entire family.

Try these steps when planning for your next staycation:

Clean and organize your living space. A great deal of the enjoyment from staying in a hotel or resort is the clean, comfortable atmosphere surrounding you.

Clean the house for tidiness and sanitation. Knowing you’re in an extremely clean environment will free your mind of worries that plague you during normal days at home.

Completely catch up on laundry. After all, even on a vacation outside of the home you would need clean laundry for the week. The goal of having clean laundry is to match the atmosphere and comfort level that you and your client or loved one would experience at a place away from home.

If you would prefer not cleaning the home yourself, search the numerous websites that give the customer coupons or discounts on cleaning services. Websites such as Groupon and LivingSocial offer such coupons for most cities in the United States.

Plan activities to do in the home or surrounding area. A staycation should still be active. Staying at home the entire week of vacation is impractical and can cause friction after a few days. Survey and utilize your surroundings to plan fun activities for your clients or loved ones and the rest of the family.

Do some research in the weeks beforehand and have a game plan in place.

Look into low-cost or free local attractions to visit during the day. Depending on the interests of your family, these may include a museum, butterfly garden, aquarium, or a picnic at the local park. Many local education-related venues allow kids in for free.

Not every activity has to be outside of the home. Plan activities that your client or loved oned, and children would enjoy doing, such as arts and crafts. If your children are older, play sports or set up a slip and slide in the backyard.

Turn off the electronics. In order to create a relaxing atmosphere it’s important to disconnect from everyday life.

Turn off your cell phone and shut down your computer. Make arrangements with work beforehand and communicate that you’ll be out of touch for the entire duration of your vacation.

On your work email account, you can set an automatic response that will reply to senders to let them know that you’re out of the office. This way, you’ll have peace of mind in knowing that your responsibilities at work will be handled.

Having a staycation is a positive, cost-effective way to take a break from your everyday life. Taking a short break from life’s responsibilities will allow you to become inspired to do better in other aspects of your everyday life.

Your mind, body, and soul deserve a break, even if an extravagant vacation is not financially viable at the moment. With a little creativity and some extra effort in planning, you, your clients or loved ones, and the rest of your family can experience a relaxing and rejuvenating vacation – right in your own home.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are you a Caregiver taking care of two loved ones? Did you check out Part 1? Check out Part 2 to hear more from Caregiver, Christine Psalms and how she takes care of both of her parents!

Listen Now!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTENTION: INSTAGRAM UPDATE!!!

Thank you for your patience with me as I attempted to gain access to my Instagram account @rozjonesenterprises! Unfortunately, I have been prompted to create a NEW Instagram account.

Be sure to follow my new Instagram page @rozcaregiverconsulting and check out my top business mistakes as a Business Owner!

(Click the link above to access my new Instagram page with ease!)

Meditating Throughout the Summer

By Roz Jones

When Caregivers meditate, you can use your surroundings to help you. Many people try to block out the world and simply look within themselves when they meditate. This can be very useful, but there are also other ways in which you can practice meditation. While you may want to avoid noisy rooms and other distractions, Caregivers can certainly use warmth and nature to your benefit.

Meditating in a summer environment can help you focus on the continuation of life. There is great beauty to be found in existence, and there is a season for everything. As you work to internalize an innate understanding of nature, you’ll be more likely to feel peaceful, complete, and where you should be in your life.

Warmth and Meditation

In order to meditate more easily and focus on what matters most, you should be comfortable. That means sitting or lying somewhere that makes you happy and peaceful, but it also means enjoying the right temperature. If you’re too distracted by the fact that you’re too chilly, meditation will be more difficult for you. You can escape that challenge by staying warm and cozy during meditation.

The summer is ideal for meditating because the days are longer and the nights are warm. The soft noises of crickets and other small creatures can bring you peace and make you feel more connected with the world around you. As you start to relax and feel more comfortable, the warmth will help you focus on harmony and joy.

Avoid meditating in the extreme heat, as this can make you feel worse and can result in a heat stroke. Instead, find a place where it’s simply warm and comforting.

Evenings in the summertime are often good for meditation, and the pitter-patter of rain can be peaceful as well. If you live in a desert environment, rain can bring about relief, great joy, and a deep appreciation for nature that you can use to help focus your meditation.

Grow and Develop Throughout the Summer Months

The object of meditation is growth, and the summer months provide several factors that you can use to speed that growth along, such as:

Warmth
Longer days
Quiet, restful, peaceful nights
Occasional rainstorms to renew and refresh you
A break in between caregiving tasks
A stronger bond with nature and existence

There are many ways you can benefit from the warmth of summer when you want to meditate. The longer days are often helpful, and perhaps you’ll take that vacation you need, so you may have lower stress levels than you otherwise would. Even if you’re not able to take a break from Caregiving, you can still use meditation to help you feel better, calmer, and more relaxed.

Focus your mind on the beauty that summer has to offer. Blooming plants, quiet nights, small creatures and insects, rain, and the joy of being part of the cycle of life and existence can all be wonderful triggers for meditation and help bring peace and happiness.
Use what works for you. Everyone is different, and meditation is a very personal experience. The way one person uses the summer might not be the same way someone else uses it. Your meditation time is your own special getaway. Take the warmth, peace, and beauty of summer and use it in the way that feels most comfortable to you.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Follow My Pinterest to Stay Updated On Tips About Caregiving!

(Click the link below to follow my Pinterest Account)

Follow!

____________________________________________________________________________________

ATTENTION: INSTAGRAM UPDATE!!!

Thank you for your patience with me as I attempted to gain access to my Instagram account @rozjonesenterprises! Unfortunately, I have been prompted to create a NEW Instagram account.

Be sure to follow my new Instagram page @rozcaregiverconsulting and check out my latest post on the top business mistakes I’ve made as a Business Owner!

(Click the link above to access my new Instagram page with ease!)

What Activities Can an Elderly Parent Participate In?

By Roz Jones

Whether you’re living with your parents to provide care or dropping in to provide them with care, you may find that their wellbeing is always at the forefront of your mind. We note, however, that a rise in age comes with the decline of certain aspects of a person’s life. These include a person’s health and their ability to engage in physical and social activities.

Engaging in a variety of activities stimulates your client or loved one’s brain and encourages a healthy lifestyle, which leads to a better quality of life.

Our aging parents, unfortunately, may be hard-pressed to engage in the activities younger people actively enjoy. Still, there are several appropriate activities you can help your parents and loved ones enjoy. Let’s walk through some of these activities.

Activities elderly parents can engage in:

Outdoor walks. Walking is one of the healthiest activities for humans. It requires little effort or equipment, but it still has long-term health advantages.

Our elderly parents, who have a harder time moving, should go for a stroll at least once every two days. It doesn’t have to take long, and it doesn’t have to be far.

Set a date with your parents, take a walk through a park and enjoy the scenery together. This would certainly be an activity your parents would enjoy.

Playing board games. Enjoy classic games of old or learn new ones together.

Board games and card games are not only entertaining, but they can also assist your parents to keep their minds sharp.
Like board games, puzzles of all kinds can work too!

Reading. For parents who may find it difficult to take part in activities that involve higher physical energy, reading is a fun pastime you can do with them.

Reading might help you relax and boost your memory, as well as your parents. Consider going to a park or beach to read together.

You could also try forming a book club for your parents with a few of their acquaintances. This is a good way to keep your parents engaged in vibrant discussions while also socializing as they get older.

Gardening. Gardening is a relaxing and enjoyable activity your older parents might enjoy. It’s simple to enjoy in the sun or shade from the comfort of your parents’ house. You can still plant or re-pot flowers with your elderly parents even if they just have a small balcony or a windowsill.

Gardening is also an activity that may be enjoyed by multiple generations. You, your parents, and any children you have can all take part in planting bulbs or seeds and watching them grow into flowers or food that you can all eat together.

Family bonding. Family activities that allow your elderly parents to interact with their children and grandchildren would surely appeal to them. Spend time with them while preparing meals for the family. Plan family cookouts or picnics.

Take them on vacations with the family. Spending quality time with loved ones is an activity that the elderly, who are more likely to be lonely, would enjoy.

Today’s culture, with its technological advancements, has led to a transfer of most people’s activities and attention to virtual spaces, and it’s easy for our aging parents to feel left out as they can’t keep up.

We can reassure our elderly parents that they are cherished and can still find delight in their later years by participating in these activities.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Are you a Caregiver taking care of two loved ones? Did you check out Part 1 of last week’s episode? Check out Part 2 to hear more from Caregiver, Christine Psalms and how she takes care of both of her parents!

Listen Now!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTENTION: INSTAGRAM UPDATE!!!

Thank you for your patience with me as I attempted to gain access to my Instagram account @rozjonesenterprises! Unfortunately, I have been prompted to create a NEW Instagram account.

Be sure to follow my new Instagram page @rozcaregiverconsulting and check out my top business mistakes as a Business Owner!

(Click the link above to access my new Instagram page with ease!)