Fast Facts

Being a caregiver is proven to contribute to chronic stress.
Positive thinking can change how your mind works, making it more flexible and open to possibilities.
A positive attitude can help improve your immune system as well as many other benefits.

More than once in our life, we’ve been told a variation of the phrase “think positive”. But it can be easier said than done, especially considering that if you’re on the receiving end of that advice it probably means there’s something in your life that’s pushing you to negative thoughts and emotions.

It comes as no surprise that this might be the case for many people who are juggling work, life, and caring for a loved one. The busy schedule can be overwhelming and lead to thoughts that sound a lot like “This is too much; I can’t do it.”

We’re here with some good news. Yes, you can do it. And the key to success might just be positive thinking. Positive thinking has been shown to be particularly beneficial in moments when your life feels out of control, where the power of positive thinking can set into motion a chain of events over which you do have control. Now let us be clear, positive thinking doesn’t mean you view the world through rose-colored glasses. Positive thinking means you are striving to be optimistic, and you’re intentional about looking for a favorable outcome. It relies on hope and enables us to look beyond our current situation and circumstances and builds emotional and social resources that turn to positive action.

Being a caregiver, especially to a loved one who’s sick, is proven to contribute to chronic stress (alongside stressors such as unemployment or traumatic injuries). These stressful events can change how our immune system functions. Negative thinking signals the body’s immune response. A positive attitude can improve your immune system, alongside other benefits such as:

Triggering positive emotions such as joy, interest, contentment, pride, and love
Researchers suspect that people who are more positive may be better protected against the inflammatory damage of stress
Research also found that positive thinking can aid in stress management and even plays an important role in overall health and well-being
Hope and positivity help people make better health and life decisions and focus more on long-term goals
Additional studies have found that a positive attitude improves outcomes and life satisfaction across a spectrum of conditions—including traumatic brain injury, stroke, and brain tumors.

Here are some ways to easily incorporate positive thinking into your daily routine and schedule:

Affirmations! Print out your favorite positive mantras (like “I am a patient listener”) and place them somewhere you can see them multiple times during your day.
Journal for a few minutes each day and write down one thing for which you’re grateful.
Practice mindfulness. This means staying more present and “in the moment” and can be as easy as taking the time to notice all the different trees and plants on your daily walk.
Smile more! Research shows that if you smile, your mood actually improves.
Get into the practice of reframing your thoughts. For example, turn an “it’s too complicated” into “I’ll tackle it from a different angle”.
Start building resiliency by acting on problems rather than ignoring them or hoping they disappear.

So, this month, let your positive thoughts translate into positive actions that can help you take better care of yourself while you take good care of your loved ones.

For more information and examples of the power of positive thinking, visit the Mayo Clinic site.

“The secret of a better and more successful life is to cast out those old, dead, unhealthy thoughts. Substitute for them new vital, dynamic faith thoughts. You can depend upon it—an inflow of new thought will remake you and your life.”- Norman Vincent Peale, Power of Positive Thinking

For more caregiving assistance, you can find live expert help by reaching out to a Care Guide via message or by scheduling a phone call.