There are times when caregiving falls to a partner, a parent or an adult child not because they’re without their own health challenges, but because they’re not as ill, frail or as incapacitated as the person they’re caring for. Sound familiar? Are you caring for someone close to you while also trying to manage your own health? You’re not alone. The Health Council of Canada reports that more than nine million Canadians have one or more chronic health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

If you live with a chronic illness, you know that sometimes it doesn’t take more than a few sleepless nights, skipped meals, missed medications or appointments before you may start feeling as though you're no longer in the driver’s seat. That’s why ongoing self-care is essential, not selfish. Yes – it may require more effort on your part to make it happen, but consider the alternative? As Principle Seven of the Share The Care™ approach states:

• Take care of yourself, or you won’t be able to take care of the patient.
• Exercise, rest, stay “in life.”
• Lighten the rest of your load.
• Don’t forget about your own family and friends.

I especially like the second bullet – about staying “in life.” For me, that means striking up a conversation with a total stranger while buying sunscreen at the drug store. By the same token, when I start avoiding opportunities to chat with people I know I'm not as "in life" as I should be. What’s your red flag?