Caring for Others and Self-Care

It's a delicate balance to care for others and to make sure one is caring for themselves at the same time. We think giving from the heart is commendable, however it gets tricky when a person's cup doesn't get refilled enough, and then they find themselves suffering from compassion fatigue.

It's up to each caregiver to decide where to draw the line, when to treat themselves to something fun or revitalizing, when to assert themselves and say "no", and when to offer assistance to others who could use a hand.

If you are in the care giving role and struggling to maintain balance, here are some coaching questions we hope you find helpful:

• What boundaries have you set with loved ones?

• What reminders do you have in place to nurture yourself if you are feeling drained or overwhelmed?

• What activities do you like to do to revitalize yourself? When do you schedule time for them? Are they part of your routine?

• When you think about offering help to someone, what intuitive tools do you have in place to decide if it's a "yes" or a "no"?

We wish you all the best nurturing yourselves as you nurture others.