The New Year looms large and, if you’re like me, making some needed changes can feel scary, particularly if those changes involve the relationships with our patients and loved ones. For caregivers, both professional nurses and family carers, making changes to our daily nursing routine can feel risky even if the possibility for attaining some degree of balance for ourselves is possible.

In your professional life, you are a caregiver every day for your patients; you may also be taking care of a loved one at home. Serving in this dual role can bring stresses that challenge the balance in our lives. Even if you’re not caring for someone at home, your family may expect you to take care of all their caregiving issues, even ones beyond medical issues, because you are a nurse.

So let’s take stock of that rut we were in called 2012. I know my personal ruts, my habits and routines of the past year need rethinking. So, let’s just jump into 2013 by facing our fears about our nursing routines.

What are you afraid of changing? Pick a caregiving task or activity. Ask yourself, “Why am I afraid of changing ________?” Is it because...

■No one else can do it but me?

■My loved one only wants me to assist?

■I am fearful that someone else can do it better than me?

■I am afraid something bad will happen?

Do you have other excuses for not changing your routines? Consider those and place them on this list of excuses.

Let’s examine each of these excuses for not changing our routines.

■No one else can do it but me.

I’ve been known to say this too, but examined in the light of day, it’s just not true. Others can complete tasks; the issue is that they will probably do them differently.

Certainly, you must complete certain medical tasks for patients and loved ones, but for other duties, different can be better! After allowing others to help, I’ve actually learned some new options for caregiving tasks.

■My loved one only wants me to assist.

Of all the excuses on this list, this one is and was the most different for me to confront. Often your loved one will say something like, “You are the best at _____” or “I really want only you to do ______.” My suggestion is to sort out those tasks that really need doing by you, perhaps something that is very personal for your loved one or that requires your professional expertise. Try to delegate all other nursing tasks.

■I am fearful that someone else can do it better than me.

Yes, there are probably some tasks (ones outside your professional expertise) that others can do better than you. This is true in all of life. Again, sort out what you really do best and delegate those things that you don’t like or are not good at.

■I am afraid something bad will happen.

This excuse is one you might have for your personal, family life. When I feel this way, I find that planning for my absence and anticipating all the possible problems is a good way to assure myself that everything will be all right. Writing instructions for the temporary carer is a good way to increase your confidence.