When you become a caregiver, your already busy life doubles or even triples in workload. Tasks multiply, from getting second opinions and calling insurance companies to rescheduling your appointments around your loved one's needs. The emotional strain can zap your energy, making even the simplest tasks feel monumental. How often have you laid in bed, unable to fall asleep or waking up at 1 AM, unable to return to rest?

Before you know it, you realize you have no time for yourself, and even if you did, you wouldn’t have the energy. Everyone says to put yourself first, but how do you do that? More importantly, how do you believe you can do it?

Today, let’s tackle self-care in a way that feels achievable and special. ‍

The Value of Just 15 Minutes:

As caregivers, we often feel that self-care is just another task on an already overflowing plate. But what if we reframe it as something manageable, like just 15 minutes? Studies show that short, frequent breaks...

Are you burning out?  
Are you exhausted, fatigued, or just plain tired?
What’s your stress level? 
What about your anxiety level?
Are you sad or depressed?

How do you feel about your health?  Are you taking care of yourself?  Are you losing weight?  Or are you gaining weight?  

These are just a few symptoms of caregiver stress and caregiver burnout?  

I want to talk today about the ONE thing you can do.  The ONE thing you can take control of.  

I'm here to give you some tough love and hard talk.  

It’s time . Let me say it again.  It’s time.  Time to move!   

I'm here to tell you that you have to move.  

You have to even if you don’t feel like it.  Even if you're tired.  Even if you don’t think you have time.  

Start small -  just 20 minutes a day is all you need.   Or even if it’s 15 minutes.  

A study from Harvard says:  ...

You're in for a big treat with today's guest.  I chatted with a life coach and business friend who is passionate about self-care, self-love and the pursuit of growth.  

Today's guest, Amy Linsmeyer, is dedicated to helping women move forward in their personal and entrepreneur journey by encouraging dreams, their authentic self and developing a foundation that supports sustainable growth.   

Amy shared ways to put yourself first, finding a morning routine and most importantly taking action.   She gives her best tips and mindset practices, knowing that challenges are part of the caregiver life.  

Here are just a word from Amy worth noting:

• It's ok to let the pieces fall as you figure things out. 

• We need to know where we are, before we go where we’re going to go

•  It all comes down to what we want in life.   Appreciate the importance of your putting yourself first

• The difference between wanting and having is an...

FACT:  You have 168 hours a week.  24 hours a day.  No more.  

• How many hours do you work your 9-5 job or business?
• How many hours do you spend doing work around your home?
• How many hours errands (that grocery shopping, pharmacy hours)
• Now at the time of the podcast - it’s holiday season - so how many hours are you shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating or doing other activities of the season. 
• How many hours do you spend caregiving
• Then your time and hopefully it’s self-care your me time 

Have you said any of these words out loud or to yourself  

• I am so tired? 
• I can barely make it through the day. 
• I would give anything to take a nap. 
• I can’t remember the last time I had a goodnight sleep. 
• Ijust keep drinking caffeine hoping to stay awake. 

Here was a schedule I had back in 2017 

• It’s Monday
• Get up at 5:30 am 
• Household chores (throw in a load of wash, tidy up...

Navigating the complex world of caregiving often presents an overwhelming sense of guilt and pressure, especially when trying to balance personal life, work, and the needs of loved ones. In a poignant episode of the Caregiver Cup podcast, the personal journey of navigating a tumultuous week during Thanksgiving in 2017 is shared, along with insights on how accepting the present moment can alleviate these feelings.

One of the major challenges caregivers face is when they or their loved ones receive a cancer diagnosis. This life-changing event often throws caregivers into a maelstrom of emotions, making self-care fall by the wayside. The podcast emphasizes the importance of taking it all in, allowing it to settle, and logically prioritizing what's important. Granting oneself grace during these challenging times and leaning into therapy and community for strength is highlighted as a vital part of coping with a cancer diagnosis.

Moreover, the societal pressures caregivers...