Top tips for taking a break if you cannot get away

If you can't get away, it's especially tough at this time of year when we're surrounded by holiday excitement.

Are you are feeling 'stuck' over the summer? Because getting away when you have one or more caring roles is never easy. Somehow we've got to make the most of any time we have to maintain our wellbeing:

• One hour? Book a treatment, or hair cut or go for a long walk, swim or exercise class, meet a friend for a coffee and catch up

• Half an hour? Try a visualisation exercise, a meditation or some yoga. See Youtube, Oxford Mindfulness or the Insight timer app for ideas.

• 15 minutes? Read a book outdoors and make yourself a special drink or snack

• 5 minutes? Take some deep breaths and step outside, engage your senses.

Don’t forget to contact Sutton Carers Centre if you want information about taking a longer respite break from your caring role. Or if you have time to pop in for a session, why not take time out with our Thursday gentle yoga sessions.

During the summer holidays routines are disrupted particularly for parent Carers, children and teenagers. Consider taking back some control and adding something to your existing bedtime and wake up routine. This could be trying a relaxation exercise before bed, taking a bath, reading some pages of a novel, writing three positive things that happened in the day. Or on waking up doing some yoga or stretches, reading your positive affirmations, making a healthy breakfast.

These are all suggestions but work out what gives you joy or makes you feel calm and see how you can fit more of it into your day.

Self-care or doing activities that energise and replenish you can help you feel more able to cope with the stress in your life and your caring responsibilities.

Our next Maintaining your wellbeing as a Carer workshop - find out more here.