Caregivers Dozing Off: Working Without a Wink of Sleep

_{Photo by Andrea Piacquadio}

We can all probably agree that caregiving is a very selfless and compassionate act. We can also probably agree that it involves a lot of weight, both emotional and psychological. Beyond just suffering and paying these tolls, there is an oft-mentioned burden, too.

That burden is sleep—or the lack thereof.

For plenty of working men and women, there have been many times where we push through sleepiness, promising ourselves that we will just sleep longer during our rest days (although that rarely ever happens but nevertheless, we continue make those promises). Yet, depriving ourselves of sleep can have far-flung consequences. The body and the mind deteriorate quickly when it isn’t given respite.

The issue of lack of sleep is almost an epidemic amongst caregivers. Throughout there tenures, caregivers are frequently at the crossroads of having to choose whether or not to forego sleep to continue working or to steal away some time for a brief shut-eye.

Working without a Wink of Sleep

For caregivers, lacking sleep is so common as to be part of their job descriptions. This is especially the case for those who have patients with chronic illnesses, disabilities and whatever else that requires 24/7 attention. The demands of round-the-clock care puts your sleeping patterns through the ringer, from having to manage medicines to expecting unpredictable incidents, and that’s not really healthy.

Poor sleep quality isn’t a laughing matter.

_{Photo by Cedric Fauntleroy}

Caregivers Dozing Off: Factors

There are a lot of reasons why caregivers may or may not have enough time to sleep, chief among them is the fact that—if you work around the clock—you often need to be alert throughout the night, assisting patients with tasks like going to the toilet, taking medicine and or other medical or behavioral needs.

Then, there’s the stress and anxiety that comes with caregiving. Too much of either makes really hard to fall asleep. And even if you do get some time for sleep, it might not go sailing smoothly because of physical exhaustion.

Perhaps the number one thing that takes away a caregiver’s time for sleep is simply their kindness and dedication to their job. If you are a caregiver, professional or not, you probably went in because of either love or the desire to be of help. As such, caregivers almost always prioritize the needs of others over their own, leaving them little to rest.

Caregivers Dozing Off: Impact

While we may laugh off our drowsiness or sneak a few minutes here and there to close our eyes, sleep deprivation can have a devastating impact on our own health.

Sometimes, lacking sleep leads to an increased risk of getting chronic illnesses, like getting a stroke, getting diabetes, or growing obese. Getting less than the required amount of sleep constantly also weakens the immune system enough that you risk becoming more vulnerable to infections and diseases.

When you are in dire need of sleep, your mind is going on overdrive, mustering all the energy it can to keep your body from shutting down. What this does to the body often lasts, leading to issues with memory, concentration, and other cognitive functions. And if you have problems with how your mind works, you will have problems with making judgments and decisions. Accidents will occur more frequently because of that.

And when that happens a lot, your emotional state is in a harmful flux, and you are liable to succumb to a whole slew of mental conditions.

Caregivers Dozing Off: Strategies

While getting optimal sleep is a pipe dream for caregivers, getting a night of adequate sleep can be feasible. To help improve your sleep quality, you need to have a pre-sleep routine, engage in activities that calm the mind, a warm bath or a book might suffice. Furthermore, make sure that your bedroom is dark and quiet and cool. And, regardless if you’re working round the clock or not, avoid too much caffeine or alcohol intake.

Practice reducing your stress either though deep breathing, yoga or whatever else. And, this is extremely important, try to look out for yourself sometimes. You can’t be a good caregiver if you can’t take care of yourself.

Better Nights in Caregiving

By understanding what happens when you lack sleep and what factors lead to you lacking said sleep, you can envision better nights in the future.

For a firsthand account of issues like these and more, One Caregiver’s Journey, a caregiver book by Eleanor Gaccetta, is available for order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Google Books, www.onecaregiversjourney.com or through this link!