What Defines FUN AND RECREATION FOR HEALTH
I participate in group activities that I enjoy, with family, friends, or other intentional groups (e.g. games or movie night, volleyball, support groups, health, reduce stress).
Play is necessary to a balanced life throughout life. Play enhances learning and the use of talents, social empathy, societal empathy, and social competency. Play (even for only 20 minutes) reduces stress, improve mood, and lowers the chances of burn-out. Games have a strong social component. Laughter with friends reduces inflammation, stress, gives you more endorphins (feel-good enzymes) and productivity. Blood pressure goes down because you release dopamine. Inadequate play leads to depression. Game night, anyone? A health coach can help you make lifestyle changes and establish new habits. You can look on our website SurvivingBurnout.org for health and project coaches.
I have interests or hobbies that help me maintain a sense of identity and fulfillment
Caregivers often feel they need to put their life on hold and lose themselves in the caregiver role. A hobby can engage or distract attention as needed. A hobby can help you to relax, or it can give you a sense of purpose and fulfillment outside of your caregiving world (Greenfield, 2023). Having interests that are distinct from caregiving can help to relieve stress and who you are outside of the caregiving role. Greenfield (2021) mentions six core human needs. These needs are: 1) certainty; 2) variety; 3) significance; 4) love and connection; 5) growth; and 6) contribution. Are your core needs being met? You can read a list of self-care practices and see if any meet these six core needs. For instance, when certainty is missing, you might simply take a bubble bath to restore your inner balance, giving you a sense that after all, all is right in the world. A health coach can help you make lifestyle changes and establish new habits. You can look on our website SurvivingBurnout.org for health and project coaches.
I have hobbies outside of caregiving that I enjoy and that engage my attention.
Hobbies that engage your attention may take a lot of energy, whether mental or physical. That said, an engaging hobby can bring your attention to something outside of your current situation, reminding you that there is life outside caregiving. Some hobbies along these lines are reading, writing, singing, dancing, playing music, sudoku or crossword puzzles, as well as arts and crafts. A health coach can help you make lifestyle changes and establish new habits. You can look on our website SurvivingBurnout.org for health and project coaches.
I have hobbies that distract me and allow me to regain perspective and emotional energy.
Greenfield (2023) says a distracting hobby does not require a lot of energy and yet may give you a brief respite away from the mental and emotional challenges that you face. This can help you to see your caregiving world with more clarity and to reset your emotional energy. Some popular distracting hobbies are playing video games, watching TV, and sports/exercise classes. A health coach can help you make lifestyle changes and establish new habits. You can look on our website SurvivingBurnout.org for health and project coaches.
I have relaxing hobbies that allow my mind and body to rest and restore.
Relaxing hobbies such as gardening, yoga, or meditation allow your mind and body to rest and reset/restore. These hobbies have either very simple motion or no motion. Relaxing hobbies may include knitting, crocheting, baking, photography, jigsaw puzzles, or tai chi. A health coach can help you make lifestyle changes and establish new habits. You can look on our website SurvivingBurnout.org for health and project coaches.
I have hobbies that serve a greater purpose, such as crafting to earn money, to give gifts to people, or to act as a creative outlet.
Hobbies can serve a greater purpose, such as crafting to earn money which gives you a sense of direction or purpose; to give gifts to people to see the light in their eyes (social interaction/enjoyment); or act as a creative outlet (which gives you a sense of fulfillment and identity outside of caregiving). These background purposes offer a sense of self-efficacy, self-fulfillment, and/or social interaction and enjoyment. A health coach can help you make lifestyle changes and establish new habits. You can look on our website SurvivingBurnout.org for health and project coaches.