Caring for Yourself While You Care for Others
Launch library · evergreen read
People who spend their energy looking after others, whether as parents, carers, or simply supportive friends, can quietly run themselves dry without noticing. Caring for yourself in the process is not a distraction from that role but a way of sustaining it. This is worth remembering on the days when nothing else feels like it is working.
This might mean protecting a small amount of time each week that belongs only to you, or being honest with someone else about needing support yourself. Carers are allowed to have needs too, even while they are busy meeting the needs of somebody else. Small, steady effort in this direction tends to be more sustainable than a single big push.
If caring for others has left you feeling depleted, support exists for you as well. MensLine Australia offers support for men on 1300 78 99 78, and Lifeline is available to everyone on 13 11 14. It helps to approach this without expecting an immediate or dramatic result.