That’s how quickly my life changed. My mother suffered a minor stroke and subsequent pulmonary embolism. She was hospitalized twice and she too was battling the onset of dementia. My mom had always been so independent, to the point of joining me and my friends for the occasional happy hour (before COVID-19). However now, she really needed my help. Her memory was no longer so good and, although she was not disabled, she needed help keeping track of medications, doctor appointments, and light housework.

Of course, at the time my mom got sick, my corporate job was busier than ever. She would often find me working long hours, albeit at home, to stay on top of things and at the same time try to keep an eye on Mom. Whatever life I had outside of work and my mom seemed to disappear. Burnout was on the horizon.

Juggling caregiving and full-time work is not uncommon. According to the researchers, in 2014 there were approximately 23.9 million caregivers who also had outside jobs. So how do you find a balance between caring and having a full time job? Here are some things I learned:

Juggling caregiving and full-time work is not uncommon. According to the researchers, in 2014 there were approximately 23.9 million caregivers who also had outside jobs. So how do you find a balance between caring and having a full time job? Here are some things I learned:

Get organized. That means organizing your life so that you can be effective both in caregiving and in your work. I started my mornings an hour earlier than usual. This way, I was able to do some early morning meditation, eat breakfast, and speed through my paperwork before I was inundated with emails and phone calls. I also set up a calendar for my mom so she could easily keep track of her doctor’s appointments. The family invested in a 30-day pill box, complete with an alarm that made it easy for my mom to know which pills to take and when.

I looked for help. Even though my sisters lived on the opposite coast, they came to help take care of my mom. Although a full time nurse was not necessary, we were able to have a nurse come in twice a week to check on my mom and her medications. The home care nurse was covered by Medicare. This help from others was invaluable. I was able to regroup and spend time on the things that needed my attention at home.

take some time for yourself even if you only have 30 free minutes, spend them on you. “Me time” can be used to relax, meditate, spend time with friends, or just take a long bath. You should also take care of your health. Get some exercise like a good walk and eat well. If you start to feel sick, take time to get medical attention. You cannot help a loved one if they are not healthy.

Talk to other people who might be in the same situation.. Reach out to peers who have also cared for a sick or elderly loved one. These people are not only a source of wisdom and encouragement, but they will also help you feel that you are not alone.

Juggling caregiving and full-time work is never easy. But if you have a plan, doing both is possible.