Tips for Caregivers – Improving Your Concentration

Caregiver in Pittsburgh PA

As a caregiver, you strive to do your best every day to listen to your loved one’s concerns, help them with tasks around the house, be a good listener at doctor’s appointments, and be sure to stay on schedule with appointments, medication reminders, social obligations, and much more.  With all of these goals, it is not uncommon to feel pulled in many directions.  This can leave you feeling overwhelmed and scattered, making it hard to concentrate fully on your tasks and responsibilities.  As a caregiver, having great concentration is important, but many habits in your everyday life may be making it harder for you to concentrate.  Read on for some helpful tips that can help you to improve your concentration and be the best caregiver you can be.
 
Make a List
Sometimes scattered thoughts can feel like they are taking over your brain.  If you find that your mind feels like it is constantly a whirlwind of thoughts, writing out a list can be helpful.  Make a to-do list each day and categorize it, if needed.  Write down your goals for the day and things that are nice to do, but aren’t top priorities.  This can help you get the nagging thoughts out of your brain and on paper, making them easier to follow and concentrate on when you need to.
 
Limit Smartphone Time
Smartphones can be helpful devices for caregivers for many reasons.  They are a great way to access email quickly on the go, they are excellent for looking up information and recipes, and they are wonderful for keeping in touch with friends and family.  Unfortunately, many smartphone features can be distracting, causing you to lose your concentration.  One way to lose this distraction and get you back on track, is to limit time spent on your smartphone.  Try putting it away where you can’t see it while you are doing tasks that require full attention like cooking or reading to your loved one.  Another thing you can do is turn off the notifications on apps so that you won’t be disturbed by them throughout the day.
 
No More Multitasking
When you are multitasking, you may think that you can be more productive, but the reality is that you will not be giving any task your full concentration.  For this reason, it is more effective to concentrate on one thing at a time, instead of trying to juggle many things.
 

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Pittsburgh, PA, please contact the friendly staff at Liken Home Care.  Call (412) 693-6820 or (855) 856-0551

 
Source: http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/ss/slideshow-top-concentration-killers