 | It has been years since I’ve been so impressed by a book that I actually wanted to write a book review! But that is exactly what happened – before I even finished reading The Universal Self-Care Manual for Carers by Kerrie Cox and Yasmin Lang. |
As we age, especially when we get to the older years, we see more people our own age needing care, especially after accidents or serious illnesses. We might actually become one of those who offer care. So the health of ‘carers’ is perhaps more in the front of our minds than it might have been when we were younger.
However, this book is not just for those in a carer role – although it is a beautifully supportive toolkit for carers. The information in this book will support everyone to self-care, no matter your age or life circumstances. It is full of common-sense suggestions but is also so broad as to bring new ideas that are easy to implement.
Here are a few excerpts to give you an idea of the breadth of what is covered in this manual. It is actually a workbook, with blank pages for you to make notes and keep a record of how you are progressing with your own self-care, whether you are caring for yourself or another.
In the chapter about ‘Why You Should Feel Good about Asking for Help’ they write:
Often, we think no one can do it as well as we can … but honestly they don’t have to! If they can help carry the load and the job gets done…
If you feel, or have been made to feel you are indispensable in your caring role, it is definitely time to step back … and appreciate what you bring.
Often the person you are caring for will be very reluctant to bring additional people in…. This is understandable; however, they will get used to it.
If someone offers to carry something for you, just say Yes!
In the chapter about ‘Six Strategies to Support Your Body and Your Digestion’, they write:
Be present. If you are not connected with your body and not present when you are eating, your brain and your gut brain, which have a very important relationship within our nervous system, cannot communicate and this communication is absolutely crucial for faster metabolism and healthy digestion.
The very start of your digestion is called ‘the head phase of digestion’; it includes acknowledging and seeing the food, smelling and tasting the food, feeling its texture in your mouth. It is estimated to be up to 40% of our digestive response to any meal … which means we need to have full awareness of what we are eating.
In the chapter about ‘How to Be in Joy and Bring the Best of Who You Truly Are’, they write:
It is not always easy to share with the world the true you because we can often think we need to be a certain way or need to be seen to do what others do, to be accepted.
This is a false belief; it changes the way we feel about ourselves and creates the opening for all those thoughts of jealousy and comparison which deflate our self-confidence to the point that we do not feel we are enough, being who we truly are.
In fact, once you start appreciating who you are and the unique qualities you bring to this world, you will realise that it is much harder trying to be someone that you are not.
The Self-Care Manual also offers practical support on helping others with the transition from life to death, what to do when the person you are caring for dies, and workbook pages for journaling how you are feeling. This book is a resource that you will return to many times after your initial reading.
The Universal Self-Care Manual for Carers ‘Your toolkit for self-care’
Founded and authored by Kerrie Cox and Yasmin Lang
Available for purchase at the website True Universal Care
However, this book is not just for those in a carer role – although it is a beautifully supportive toolkit for carers. The information in this book will support everyone to self-care, no matter your age or life circumstances. It is full of common-sense suggestions but is also so broad as to bring new ideas that are easy to implement.
Here are a few excerpts to give you an idea of the breadth of what is covered in this manual. It is actually a workbook, with blank pages for you to make notes and keep a record of how you are progressing with your own self-care, whether you are caring for yourself or another.
In the chapter about ‘Why You Should Feel Good about Asking for Help’ they write:
Often, we think no one can do it as well as we can … but honestly they don’t have to! If they can help carry the load and the job gets done…
If you feel, or have been made to feel you are indispensable in your caring role, it is definitely time to step back … and appreciate what you bring.
Often the person you are caring for will be very reluctant to bring additional people in…. This is understandable; however, they will get used to it.
If someone offers to carry something for you, just say Yes!
In the chapter about ‘Six Strategies to Support Your Body and Your Digestion’, they write:
Be present. If you are not connected with your body and not present when you are eating, your brain and your gut brain, which have a very important relationship within our nervous system, cannot communicate and this communication is absolutely crucial for faster metabolism and healthy digestion.
The very start of your digestion is called ‘the head phase of digestion’; it includes acknowledging and seeing the food, smelling and tasting the food, feeling its texture in your mouth. It is estimated to be up to 40% of our digestive response to any meal … which means we need to have full awareness of what we are eating.
In the chapter about ‘How to Be in Joy and Bring the Best of Who You Truly Are’, they write:
It is not always easy to share with the world the true you because we can often think we need to be a certain way or need to be seen to do what others do, to be accepted.
This is a false belief; it changes the way we feel about ourselves and creates the opening for all those thoughts of jealousy and comparison which deflate our self-confidence to the point that we do not feel we are enough, being who we truly are.
In fact, once you start appreciating who you are and the unique qualities you bring to this world, you will realise that it is much harder trying to be someone that you are not.
The Self-Care Manual also offers practical support on helping others with the transition from life to death, what to do when the person you are caring for dies, and workbook pages for journaling how you are feeling. This book is a resource that you will return to many times after your initial reading.
The Universal Self-Care Manual for Carers ‘Your toolkit for self-care’
Founded and authored by Kerrie Cox and Yasmin Lang
Available for purchase at the website True Universal Care
