I’m not huge on News Year resolutions in general, but I was sent a AgingCare newsletter lately with two articles I thought I’d share related to resetting our caregiver thinking at the New Year. I’m also sharing a third from the being patient newsletter I just received. I hope you find value in one or all three.
The first is titled—A New Year Calls for a New Attitude Toward Caregiving.
Here’s a quote from it—
If you haven’t been making yourself a priority over the last year, you’re not alone. Most caregivers face countless mental, financial and logistical hurdles when it comes to participating in self-care. But, the new year is upon us, which is the perfect time for taking inventory of our lives, pinpointing some changes we want to make and adjusting our attitudes to help us see these things through.
The second is titled—13 New Year’s Resolutions for Caregivers.
While all the resolutions were thought-provoking, three of my favorites were—
#2 – When I feel I am imperfect, I will remember that guilt is not an option as long as I know I did the best I could, given the circumstances.
#7 –I will find a way to monitor my own energy levels so I can recharge my batteries before I hit the point of exhaustion and burnout.
#13 – I will be open to alternative ways of caring for myself. This can include massage, aroma therapy, some form of meditation, exercise, attending a caregiver support group, participating in an online caregiver forum, seeking out respite care, or meeting with a therapist.
The third is titled—Caregiver Resolutions for the New Year.
In the newsletter, they call it a set of gentle resolutions, and I agree with that since there are only four to digest.
The one I resonated most with is—Set a Consistent Sleep Schedule. Right now, getting sleep is one of my greatest caregiving challenges. I find that I wake up often as my wife wakes up, goes to the bathroom, or roams the house at night. Essentially, I don’t really get into a deeper sleep and find myself nodding off during the day. This is an area I’ll focus on in 2026.
I hope you found value in these articles. Regardless of whether you make resolutions or not, I wish you well in your 2026 Caregiver and Care recipient’s journey.