Managing Caregiving and a Career
Caring for another person and working toward career goals teaches you many life skills, including time management, prioritization, and patience. However, the benefits of both roles can be extremely rewarding, especially when you make a difference in another’s life. If you’re juggling a career and managing the rest of your time as a caregiver, you’re not alone.
How to Manage Caregiving and a Career
Managing a career while caring for an aging loved one can strain even the most organized and motivated individual. If you’re looking for ways to better manage your obligations, the following techniques can help:
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Speak with your supervisor and let them know about your caregiving obligations.
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Find a job with flexible hours and an understanding policy regarding family care.
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Work for yourself or work from home to manage your own work schedule.
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Schedule your days by implementing time management techniques.
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Stay connected with friends to give yourself time to relax and enjoy life.
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Learn how to take good notes.
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Establish boundaries between your caregiving duties and career.
Implementing these tips and reaping the benefits can take time. Just remember that you can and should ask for help, even if you don’t feel like you need it. Everyone needs a break sometimes, and you’re bound to find tons of support.
Challenges of Working and Providing Care
Caregivers working toward a career face numerous challenges in their daily lives, from scheduling snafus to conflicting obligations. For example, you may struggle with the following in your career:
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Your supervisor may not be aware of your role as a caregiver outside of your work duties
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Your schedule may not be flexible enough to work around caregiving appointments
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You may use up your paid time off or sick days to cover emergencies for the person you care for, leaving little to no time for personal rest and recuperation
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You may be late to work or have to leave early to attend to your caregiving duties
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The cost of caregiving (such as gas money) can push you to make more to cover expenses
Beyond these obligations, caring for children can also make free time (or personal time) nearly impossible. It’s easy to see why caregivers can get overwhelmed, especially if looking after others isn’t their primary career.
Your Local Caregiving Resource: Right at Home Salem
When it comes to caregiving, compassion, and dedication, Right at Home Salem offers unmatched value. We value our caregivers and also connect them with resources needed to tend to self-care and their careers. Here are a few of our recent blog posts regarding caregiving:
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Education, Support, and Communication Key to Filling Family Caregiver Role
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Caring for Someone With Dementia? How to Reduce Their Stress and Yours
If you’re ready to take the next steps in senior home care, contact us to schedule a free consultation. We can help answer any questions you may have about our services and direct you to the appropriate resources. Allow us to relieve your caregiving burden and give you the time you need for yourself.
