Caregivers often find themselves juggling several duties, so it’s not surprising when they find their own health suffering.

If you’re caring for someone who depends on you, you need to be at your best—healthy and energetic. Yet the sheer amount of time and thought involved in providing care may mean you’ve put yourself at the bottom of your priority list.

When you consider what it takes to be a caregiver, it’s a wonder—and a blessing—so many people make the sacrifice. In taking on this responsibility, caregivers often find themselves juggling several duties, including those of health care provider (administering medication or taking blood pressure), companion, decision maker, bill payer, house cleaner and health advocate. It’s not surprising when caregivers find their own health suffering. Sacrificing emotional and physical health over too long a period can lead to illness and depression.

Studies show the average caregiver provides nearly 18 to 20 hours of care a week in addition to holding down a job and managing a family. That’s a recipe for stress and burnout—unless you take precautions to protect your health. Try following these nine steps to get you on the road to better wellness.

Providing care to a loved one, though challenging, can be enormously rewarding—but first you have to take good care of yourself.

Get advice on how to ease the burden of caregiving »

Source: Women’s Health Today magazine, Spring, 2006