I’ve been sitting with a question lately: Is caregiving a form of self-care?
It’s a thought that has circled my mind many times. Part of that comes from my long journey with both self-care and caregiving. As a massage therapist, self-care has always been part of my professional and personal life. But I’ve also spent many years as a caregiver—first for my mother, who had Alzheimer’s for a long time, and more recently for my husband, who had a leg amputation earlier this year.
That second season of caregiving brought me to a level I wasn’t expecting. Suddenly, everything in our lives was different. I was stressed, anxious, and worried about what our new normal would look like. On top of the emotional side, I had very practical adjustments to make—learning how to manage a wheelchair, getting physically stronger, and figuring out tasks I never had to do before.
In the middle of that whirlwind, I leaned heavily on prayer, meditation, and reflection. I realized quickly that if I didn’t care for myself, I wouldn’t have the strength—physically, emotionally, or spiritually—to care for my husband the way I wanted to.
And that’s when this idea took root: maybe caregiving itself is a form of self-care. Because when we show up for someone else, it asks us to also tend to the most important person in our lives—ourselves.
If this reflection resonates with you, you may enjoy my Caregiver’s Devotional. It was written with caregivers in mind, but many readers tell me it feels like encouragement for anyone navigating life’s ups and downs. You can take a peek at it here → https://joyfulselfcare.com/b/B1vA2
What do you think? Can caregiving also be a form of self-care in your life?