Caring for others

By this we do not just mean being a young carer, but caring about others, such as friends, other family members and generally people around you. It means taking time to spend with other people, by either meeting them or talking to them over telephone, texting them a message, or emailing them.

When you are with others ask them how they are doing, what have they been up to etc. Once you do this others start to ask you about what you have been doing and it gives you more people to chat to.

Looking after pets can also be really good way of keeping your stress levels low. Having a dog means you need to walk it often and this can be a good way of getting out of the house and having time to yourself, or you could go with the person you care for or with friends.

Volunteering in local charity groups can also be a good way of meeting people. You will probably need to speak to someone about what kinds of volunteering you can do depending on what age you are. Joining groups such as Girl Guides or Boy Scouts can also be a good way of meeting others.

Be careful to not take on too much though as it might be difficult to carry on being a carer and volunteering or looking after a pet. The idea is to find ways to help you look after yourself not add to your work load. Caring about others does make us feel good about ourselves, but only if we look after ourselves as well.