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Do you remember the easy button?   It acknowledging the frustrations and challenges of small business. It's also a statement about Staple's responsibility to make things easier for their customers.

What if you could push an easy button when you were frustrated or facing challenges?  

Everyone wants to make their life easier - simpler.   Caregivers too.  Trying to avoid extra unnecessary work, complex advocacy tasks, and reducing errands, to name a few.  Our time is valuable and our physical and mental wellbeing are priceless.  

Think of all the things that make our life easier today.   Online shopping, deliveries to our doorsteps, apps (doctor/clinics, lab results, scheduling appts), bills, applications, our phones do so much (maps, texts, music), - just to name a few.  

As I enter into 2022, I’m continuing to think about how I can simplify my life.    As a matter of fact I picked 2 words that I am focusing on in 2022 - simplify and sustainability.    I want you to think of your word or words.   I am not a big new year resolution person but I am all about thinking about my focus and intention for the new year.  

Why did I pick simplify?   As I move into 2022, my spouse, Denis will be moving into his cancer fight with a stem cell transplant hopefully.  We meet with the Lymphoma / Stem Cell doctor on 12/30.  

If all goes well, January/February will be pretty intense.   So I am already prepping to simplify things.  What things do I absolutely need to do,  where do I have to be and what things can I take off my plate or make simpler.    If you listened to Tuesday’s episode, I started this process already.   

My second word flows into this…. Sustainability.   You have to come to the realization that you can do everything.   You may think you can, but you can’t.    You need to preserve your energy, your well-being so that you can continue to be the best caregiver you can be.  

Let me share a few of my thoughts and plans.   Before I do that though, I want to remind you that each of us are different and our situations are different.  So as you are listening to mine, I want you to think where you have opportunities to simplify and why you need to sustain.  

So here are my thoughts - in no specific order

• What appts do I need to be at and what appts don’t I have to be there for   (Denis can drive, apps keeps me informed, notes to Denis, My mom appts - my brother is helping now)
• Automation, automation - bills, reoccurring ordering (amazon), pharmacy refills, supplements, 
• Asking for help - meals, finances, shoveling, house sitting, dog sitting, cleaning
• How can I do things more efficiently -  Sunday Funday, working with my business coach, discussions with my boss, Holidays
• Prioritizing my self-care -  eating, hydrations, exercise, rest, 
• Gratitude
• Sunday Planning - time to reflect on what went well, what needs to shift and how to plan.  

Caregiving is far from easy.  But continuously look at each situation and asking yourself : What am I grateful for?  What is going well?  What’s working? What brings you joy.  Then also asking yourself:  What are you struggling with?  What are your biggest stressors?  Where are you at with burnout?   What would improve the situation?  Where do I have to be honest with myself?  

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