It's About Time!
Dear Caregivers,
Even though we’re in the middle of summer, this week and the week ahead will mark several of the shortest days in recorded history: On July 22nd and August 3rd, the earth will spin 1.34 milliseconds faster than the usual 24-hour day.
The shorter days are caused by several somewhat mysterious geological forces, but scientists say it is nothing to worry about. Still, for caregivers of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s, it might seem that the universe is adding one more time crunch to their already busy lives!
But while a shortening day is a nice metaphor for our ever-pressed time schedules, in fact the reduction is only a tiny fraction of time -- less than the blink of an eye.
And more important, wishing you had more time in the day to get everything done is the wrong approach, says Oliver Burkeman, the author of the best-selling book "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals"
The book’s title comes from the number of weeks in an 80-year-old person’s life, and Burkeman, a former time-efficiency expert, now regrets his “time-optimizing” ways. His book urges all of us to embrace the limits of our time and instead focus on what to do with that time that adds the most meaning and satisfaction to our lives.
The idea isn’t to strive to cram as much activity as we can into a day, but rather think deeply about what truly matters to you, and strive to make that happen. Once you realize that you can’t get everything done, “you give up on something that was always impossible” says Burkeman. “Then you get to start work on what's gloriously possible instead.”
Certainly, this may be harder to do for a caregiver, but the core idea should give us all inspiration: Focus on what matters most, and do your best to achieve that, and don’t feel anxiety about not getting everything done.
Here’s some more ideas for coping with time:
Keeping Your Personal Relationships Strong While Caregiving:
The stresses of caregiving can cause significant strains on a marriage or any other relationship. Here’s how to keep stress at bay and keep your personal relationships healthy.
Time Management for Caregivers:
While there isn’t a way to create more time in the day, there are methods that can help you get the most out of every minute. Here are some strategies to help manage time effectively and free up time for yourself.
Finding the Joy as a Family Caregiver:
The challenge that family caregivers face is to learn acceptance, to live in the present moment, and to let go of things you cannot control. This is a challenge to be sure, but if there can be any joy in caregiving, this is where it is.
Remember, if you can’t find the information you need on our website, you can always “Ask NAN” by clicking on this link.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“The river of time flows inexorably on; amazingly, confoundingly, marvelously, we get the brief chance to go kayaking in it.”
— Oliver Burkeman
