Halting the Stress of Caregiving: Meditation

At Long Term Solutions, we’re constantly examining new techniques to support caregivers in their journey. One great way to manage your wellness is through meditation.  

Now, we don’t mean adding another thing to a list of your ‘to-do’s,’ we don’t mean learning new meditation techniques, and we definitely don’t mean wasting fifteen minutes of your day. We’re talking about meditating on the most basic level possible. It can be as easy as stopping what you’re doing, no matter where you are, and taking five deep breaths. As simple as that! 

One place to try this is waiting for your loved ones during appointments. Caregivers are always shuttling their loved ones to and from doctor’s appointments, so instead of stressing out about the next doctor’s appointment, what’s for dinner, or an overbooked agenda, take some time to meditate. Take five minutes to focus on breathing and not the thoughts scrambling through your head. You don’t have to completely clear your head of thoughts, but just pause them momentarily. 

Incorporating five minutes of meditation into your day will have incredible benefits! Here are six steps to quieting your mind from Huffington Post.  

Why are So Many Healthcare Workers Using Alternative Medicine?

A new study found that three out of four workers in the healthcare industry use some form of alternative medicine, such as yoga, pilates, massage, or herbal medicines, among others, to stay healthy.  This number is double the 38% of the general public that engages in using alternative medicine.  Why is there such a disparity in numbers? 

Somebody who works on Wall Street probably knows more about the stock market than somebody who does not.  A carpenter typically knows what wood should be used when building a deck more than someone who is not a carpenter.  And so it is the same with the healthcare workers.  I have found that I, and the people I work with, are much more comfortable engaging in non-traditional health practices.  For example, I use diet supplements like fish oil, exercises like yoga, or mindfulness activities such as meditation more than my friends who do not work in healthcare.  The study indicated that one reason many people not involved in healthcare did not use alternative medicine was that they are dubious about the efficacy of these practices.  One example of such a practice is acupuncture.  Many view acupuncture as a zany Eastern practice, but it is really quite effective.  Of course you should always research anything before you use it, but many of the things you might think look silly are in fact very useful.  And, often, one of their best characteristics is that they are free!  Meditation does not cost anything, and if you have cable, there are numerous yoga and pilates classes right there!