1. Focus on Self-Care
When your life focus is to care for your veteran in addition to caring and providing for children, managing a household, working or continuing your education, it may feel next to IMPOSSIBLE to squeeze in time for you during the short 24-hour day. Attending a Caregiver Wellness Workshop is self-care within itself, but it will also give you ideas on how to fit more YOU time into your routine. Even though it’s tough, we as caregivers must always remember, you can’t be the best caregiver for your veteran if you don’t care for yourself too!
2. Reconnect with Friends and Make New Ones
As military spouses we always said, “Our friends from back home just don’t understand what we go through!” When you thought explaining your emotions and experiences around military life was challenging, then you became a caregiver and you took on a whole new identity and set of challenges. Then you say, “My non-caregiver friends just don’t understand!” Being a caregiver is overwhelming and you can feel isolated and misunderstood by those around you. Spending a day with caregivers who also share that “hat” in life gives you an opportunity to build an even stronger support network. This also gives you the opportunity to “let your hair down” in a nonjudgmental and encouraging environment and know you are not alone in your journey.
“The workshops provide me as a caregiver a place to be among others in similar situations in an environment that’s friendly, a safe place to speak openly, and to learn vital self care ideas we can use in our everyday life so we are not so overwhelmed in our caregiving to our veterans.” – Caregiver Sherri Piper
3. Information and Resources
There is no such thing as having “too many” resources! When you attend these workshops, you will leave with a plethora of takeaways or tools that can be of use to you until our next wellness workshop. These tools even include info on how stay connected with us virtually! Also, this is a great opportunity for caregivers to help each other by sharing their favorite resources.
“I thought that everything was so helpful. I loved that even though I have been to HFTW workshops before, it was still a new experience, with new tools and activities.” ~ A caregiver’s comment after a FL workshop
4. Relaxation and Rejuvenation
How often to you get during your everyday life to enjoy an hour of yoga? Often caregivers put nonessential tasks or activities to the side. During a Wellness Workshop, those in attendance will get the opportunity to take time to learn to relax, practice yoga, and experience the stress reduction and benefits from various relaxation exercises and activities.
“It is the calm in the storm- a release of daily tension and a reminder of pieces of me that are too easily forgotten.” ~ A caregiver at a Virginia workshop
5. A Forever Caregiver-to-Caregiver Support Network
Hope For The Warriors offers a private Facebook group for caregivers. This group provides peer support and maintains a positive and encouraging atmosphere where caregivers can learn and share and have a safe place to connect with others who are also caring for veterans.
If you are interested in learning more about our upcoming in-person and virtual Military & Veteran Caregiver Wellness workshops, please apply for services.