I am needing to fit in more activities for my own self care, self development and I am looking for some at home ideas. I'd like to try to do what I can from home to maintain a sense of self in all of this...maintain friendships as I can, family connections, stay fit and more positive while caring for a parent. Parent will go to day program 4 or so hours/ day but beyond that any ideas for caring for myself while caregiving. What do you do as a caregiver to care for yourself? What have you fit into your routine or what would you like to fit into your routine?
Think about what made you happy as a child, and then try to find activities that are similar.
There are some days when I can't fit in even a 10 minute walk, but I usually do some work outside, planting flowers, hanging out the laundry, filling the bird feeders and so forth. Mom likes to watch whatever I'm doing, so the puttering in the yard is exercise for me and entertainment for her.
So far she hasn't taken to wandering off down the block, but who knows what may develop. Her dementia at this time runs more to reinventing reality, repeating questions and comments ad nauseam, and refusing to bathe or change into clean clothes.
If it is truly impossible to take even 1/2 hour out of the day for your own renewal then you are way overextending yourself and in dire need of relief, either in-home assistance or a few hours a week in day care. I know this is easier to say than it is to pull off---unless you have lots of money (funny how that can dictate one's quality of life!)---but you deserve a life of your own even if it's only for a little while each day.
P.S. Since you used past tense, is your mom in a care facility now or has she passed away?
Music: warm up a cup of cider or your favorite tea and allow yourself to be transported by your favorite music.
Art: colored pencil work has helped me relax many times.
Crafts: crocheting, knitting, sewing, quilting, embroidery, and especially garden crafts. The arborvitae and junipers laden with charming little pale blue berries are quaking as I eye them speculatively and decide which or both will contribute to this year's holiday wreaths.
Cooking, baking - especially something with spices like cinnamon which have soothing properties. Just inhale from a jar of cinnamon (don't do anything more than inhale though) and see if it relaxes you.
And of course, eating the results of those therapeutic cooking and baking sessions heightens the relaxation. I remember the aromas and the wonderful experience of eating my mother's spice cakes which we baked after we arrived home from school.
If you want to protect your own brain, the physical exercise and socializing are the best methods. Force yourself to find ways to be around people more often or find respite care, so you can get out of the house as often as you can.
Experts also suggest that you take a totally new activity. I started to oil paint for the first time in my life. It stretches my brain in every direction.
Whatever you decide to do, keep it up!
Since I am recovering from retinal detachment surgery, I have found those adult coloring books to be relaxing and it has helped in my eye recovery too! I can do this while listening to music or a TV program.