How to care for yourself while taking care of others

Institute Editorial Team 09/26/2023

Caregivers, this is for you. Even before the pandemic, more than 16% of the US population was providing unpaid care to an adult 18 years or older, including family members with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Women make up about 75% of those caregivers, and they put in the work while juggling jobs, children, and ongoing domestic-task overload. With COVID back on the rise, caregivers are under additional pressure to care for and protect their loved ones. If you’re a caregiver, the stress may seem relentless, and you may be: having trouble sleeping under/over-eating self-medicating with alcohol or drugs canceling (or not even booking) your own doctors’ appointments That’s because when you’re a caregiver, caring for yourself tends to happen only after everyone else’s needs have been…

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Categories: Happiness, Institute of Women, Wellness & Work, Self-care, Wellness & Personal Growth

Tags: Caregivers, health, self-care, wellness

Institute Editorial Team

10 Things I Wish I Had Known Before My Dad’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

When someone receives an Alzheimer’s or other dementia related diagnosis, there is an array of emotions for the patient and their family – disbelief, denial, anger, loss, confusion and so much fear. What will this mean for our family? Before my dad received the first diagnosis of “mild cognitive impairment,” we knew things were off. He’d gotten lost a few times and was repeating himself, but it was all manageable. His friendly personality and quick wit was a good cover, but dementia is a relentless foe and it marched on. As my siblings and our mother adapted to a new normal, things would change again and again. Our wonderful dad passed away a few months ago, giving me some time to reflect on his Alzheimer’s journey.…

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Anne Murphy Brown, J.D. 08/23/2021

What is Holistic Health

If you’re curious about how holistic health care could improve your quality of life, check out this quick guide.

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Mia Barnes 08/07/2023

woman sitting at desk thinking, stressed, should you return to pre-pandemic job?

Is Your Pre-Pandemic Job Still Right for You?

Is Your Pre-Pandemic Job Still Right for You? The world is slowly returning back to “normal” 一 or as close to normal as things get while continuing to live with the threat of a global pandemic. And this return to “normal” has left many of us wondering: do I want to go back to exactly the way things were pre-pandemic? Here are some things to consider when weighing the pros and cons of staying at your pre-pandemic job. Many are leaving their pre-pandemic jobs As employers call workers back into the office, many people are choosing not to go back to their old jobs at all. Although a record number of open jobs are available in the U.S., hiring has gone way down. And people…

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Gina Messina, Ph.D. 10/18/2021

How To Recognize and Handle Burnout

What Is Burnout? Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that comes from stress exposure (Schaufeli & Greenglass, 2001). Generally, the stress that leads to burnout is consistent and ongoing for an extended period. A single stressful event usually isn’t enough to cause burnout. When you are burned out you may feel constantly exhausted or anxious and on edge. You may feel irritable and angry. You may feel like you are living in a fog and unable to think clearly. You may be unable to relax or get to sleep. Burnout Syndrome Burnout syndrome was first formally defined in the 1970s to describe a collection of symptoms often seen in people working as medical professionals, teachers, social workers, and others in helping…

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Institute Editorial Team 03/08/2023