April is National Stress Awareness Month
Hello, SimpliHere friends!
April is National Stress Awareness Month. Times of transition are times of stress. April is all about transition – the change of seasons, the end of the first quarter, tax season, school decision time and the nearing end of the school year – many of us are “in it,” in April! That’s why we take this opportunity to bring attention to the negative impact of stress on our lives- especially if you are a caregiver.
This awareness is particularly important for familial and professional caregivers who are managing the demands of their personal and professional lives while also caring for their loved one or client. In fact, 70% of caregivers report that coordination of care is stressful, while 53% say that navigating health care was difficult. And 42% of caregivers report that the costs of caregiving are also a stressor.
During National Stress Awareness Month, SimpliHere is sharing three tips to help manage the stress of caregiving, whether you are caring for clients as a professional caregiver or caring for a loved one.
1. Monitor: I monitor my own stress level using the Heart Rate Variability function on my
Apple Watch, which alerts me to the fact that my stress level is higher than it should be. I spoke with my primary care physician about this, and based on the results, she made recommendations for me to help manage my stress. Another excellent tool to help you monitor your stress level and take action to lower it is the Stress Screener, offered by the nonprofit organization Mental Health America (MHA).
2. Implement: Sometimes managing stress feels like one more thing on your very long to do list. If you try to take on too much at once, especially during times of stress, there is less of change you’ll be able to sustain the change. Implement small changes to your routine that help reduce your stress level.
One example of a small, easy-to-implement change that my doctor gave me is a simple, quick deep breathing exercise (some people call this “box breathing”) that can be done anywhere, at any time. Sit comfortably, and place one hand on your abdomen. Breathe in through your nose, deeply enough that the hand on your abdomen rises. Hold the air in your lungs, and then exhale slowly through your mouth, with your lips puckered as if you are blowing through a straw. The secret is to go slow: Time the inhalation (4s), pause (4s), and exhalation (6s). Practice for 3 to 5 minutes. It works for me.
3. Communicate: Share your progress in managing your stress load (or lack thereof) with your health care provider, family members and friends. You may be on the right track with simple exercises like box breathing, or you may need to explore other tools or even treatment options with your healthcare provider.
Perhaps one of my favorite stress relief tactics is – I’m not joking – laughter. Whether you’re guffawing at a sitcom on TV, listening to a comedian’s podcast, or quietly giggling at a newspaper cartoon, laughing does you good. Laughter is a proven, effective form of stress relief — and that’s no joke!
Happy Spring!
Joanna
About SimpliHere
The mission of SimpliHere is to ensure efficient care and peace of mind for caregivers and their patients with neurological conditions that impact communication and mobility. SimpliHere™’s intuitive, user-friendly mobile application streamlines caregiving for those impacted by neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Stroke among others- that negatively affect speech and mobility. Stay in touch to learn more about the next version of our product, news that affects you, and resources to help both caregivers and their loved ones navigate their journey.
