What Can Quiet Time Do for You as a Family Caregiver?

Caregiver in Centreville VA

Having a little bit of time to yourself, whether you meditate or simply enjoy the silence, can do a lot more for your emotional health and for your brain than you might expect.

Quiet Time Defined

For some quiet time means time spent meditating or even time spent resting with their eyes closed. In truth, your own version of quiet time can be anything that you want or need it to be. You’ll most likely want to be in as silent a room as you can be, although that may not always be completely possible. For some people, having silence can mean that outside noises are simply more muted than usual.

Your Brain Needs a Break

Your brain is constantly going, solving problems, and thinking about what needs to be done next. When you take the time to sit quietly, you mute all of that for your brain. It’s like letting your muscles rest after a workout. During the pause in between listening, your brain can simply exist.

Silence Can Help Your Brain Rebuild Itself

A study at the University of Oregon looked at what happens to mice exposed to silence. The study found that the mice’s brains were just as active during silence as they were during other times, but there were different neurons active. A separate study at Duke University found that mice exposed to silence formed new brain cells in the section of the brain that processes memory. All of this suggests that silence can help your brain to rebuild itself and to process information, particularly memories, more effectively.

Give Yourself the Gift of Quiet Time

If all you notice immediately that you get out of quiet time is that you feel a little calmer, that’s reason enough to make sure that you have that time as often as possible. Work with your loved one’s home care providers or other family members to give yourself uninterrupted quiet time as much as you can. As you start reaping the benefits, you’ll be able to enjoy it even more.

Even just a few minutes of quiet can make a huge difference, so don’t worry about not having long periods of time to devote to silence.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Centreville, VA, call the caring staff at Medical Professionals On Call today. 703-273-8818

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Michelle DeFilippis

I graduated with a BS degree and had been selling medical equipment to hospitals, clinics and technicians. More recently, a family member was diagnosed with dementia and we, as a family, realized we were not prepared t care for her. We were thrown into that whirlpool of hospital stays, 24/7 live-in care, skilled care, caring for mom ourselves and finally, now daily home care. This was such a stressful time that I started thinking there had to be other people, other families as overwhelmed and unprepared as we were.

Medical Professionals On Call has such a caring, professional staff who are available to step in with whatever level of care necessary for loved ones and to relieve you of that stress.

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