• Stepping Into the New Year Without Pressure: A Gentler Way Forward
    Dec 9 2025

    Many caregivers quietly face how overwhelming and disorienting a new year can feel when life’s demands continue without pause.

    While the world is celebrating “fresh starts,” planning goals, and posting vision boards, caregivers are often carrying the same responsibilities, the same unpredictability, and the same emotional load into January. For many years, that was my reality too.

    This conversation is about entering a new year with honesty rather than pressure, clarity rather than perfectionism, and self-compassion rather than guilt. It’s about acknowledging that your beginning can be small, slow, or quiet and still be a beginning.

    I share what those years looked like for me, how I learned to adapt when the rest of the world felt out of reach, and why clarity, kindness, and agility became the anchors I returned to again and again.

    Key Takeaways:

    * How “new year, new me” messages can be tough for caregivers.

    * How to be honest about what’s realistic right now.

    * Grace is survival, not just kindness.

    * Agility is key when life is unpredictable.

    * Set supportive, not pressured, goals.

    * Reflect on what to carry into 2026 and what to let go of.

    💡 This episode is for you if …

    * You’re entering the new year exhausted, stretched thin, or unsure where to begin.

    * You feel out of sync with the “new year energy” around you.

    * Traditional planning, resolutions, or goal-setting feel unrealistic or overwhelming.

    * You’re learning how to balance surviving today with hoping for tomorrow.

    * You want a way forward that honors your truth, not the world’s timeline.

    💬 Let’s Stay Connected

    If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a caregiver who may be entering the new year feeling burdened. Your recommendation can provide them with validation, support, and a gentler perspective as they begin anew.

    I invite you to connect: What is one truth, ritual, or mindset you intend to bring into 2026? Share your thoughts with me; I’d love to hear about and support your journey.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betweennowandnext.substack.com
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    25 Min.
  • After the Loss: Redefining Life When Caregiving Ends
    Nov 25 2025

    When caregiving ends, life becomes quiet in ways you can’t prepare for.The calls stop. The appointments end. The rhythm you’ve lived by for years disappears.

    In this episode, I talk about what that silence felt like for me, the relief, the grief, and the long road toward rediscovering who I am outside of caregiving.

    I share the lessons that came after the crisis: how to rebuild routines that center you, how to let rest feel safe again, and how to practice grace when life asks you to start over.

    Key Takeaways:

    * Why the “after” of caregiving can be both peaceful and disorienting

    * What it means to redefine your identity beyond the caregiving role

    * How to rebuild a life that centers rest, grace, and self-care

    * The power of honoring your loved one through how you choose to live

    * What “grace after caregiving” really looks like in daily life

    💡 This episode is for you if:

    * You’ve recently ended your caregiving chapter and feel unsure what’s next

    * You’re learning to live again after loss or transition

    * You’re struggling to rest without guilt or to reclaim joy

    * You want to honor your loved one while also choosing yourself

    💬 Let’s Stay Connected:If this episode resonates, share it with another caregiver who’s navigating their own “after.”

    Question: What does grace after caregiving mean to you right now, and what would it look like to give yourself some today?



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betweennowandnext.substack.com
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    22 Min.
  • The Quiet Middle: Caring When Nothing Feels New
    Nov 19 2025

    No one talks about the middle of caregiving, the long, steady stretch between crisis and closure.

    When the emergencies have slowed, but the end isn’t near either.

    When every day looks the same, and the quiet feels heavy.

    When you start to wonder if you’re doing enough, even though you’re doing everything.

    In this episode, I share what that middle season looked like for me when life stopped moving in milestones and started to feel like maintenance. I talk about how sameness can become disorienting, how hope can fade quietly, and how endurance slowly teaches you strength, compassion, and patience with yourself.

    ✨ Key Takeaways:

    * Why the “quiet middle” of caregiving matters more than we realize

    * How to find meaning and rhythm in repetitive days

    * The difference between growth and grace

    * Small rituals that can help you stay grounded

    * How stillness strengthens you for what’s next

    💡 This episode is for you if:

    * You feel stuck in a long season of caregiving without a clear end in sight

    * You’re maintaining more than you’re moving forward

    * You’re craving meaning in the middle, not just survival

    * You want permission to rest without guilt

    💬 Let’s Stay Connected:

    If this episode resonates, share it with another caregiver who might be in their own “quiet middle.”



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betweennowandnext.substack.com
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    17 Min.
  • Caregiving and Career: How to Ask for (and Accept) Support at Work
    Nov 13 2025

    In this episode, I open up about the messy overlap of work and caregiving, studying in hospital cafeterias, taking doctors’ calls between meetings, and trying to perform “fine” while privately falling apart. I share what I wish I’d known earlier: how to identify the support you actually need, how to start the conversation at work, and why accepting help is not a credibility risk, it’s sustainability.

    Whether you’ve answered emails from a waiting room or tried to balance handoffs while your world was in crisis, this one’s for you.

    Key Takeaways:

    * Why caregiving stays invisible at work and how to name it without oversharing

    * A simple way to define what support you actually need (capacity, hours, flexibility)

    * How to ask clearly (framing the ask around sustainability, not sympathy)

    * What real support can look like: policy and people (check-ins, coverage, compassion)

    * A reframe: accepting help doesn’t shrink your capability, it multiplies your capacity

    💡 This episode is for you if:

    * Have you ever taken a doctor’s call between meetings

    * You feel torn between ambition and obligation

    * You want language to ask for flexibility without guilt

    * You’re learning to lead with both strategy and compassion

    💬 Let’s Stay Connected:

    If this resonates, share it with another caregiver who’s balancing both worlds.

    Question: What’s one small change at work that would make your week more sustainable?



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betweennowandnext.substack.com
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    31 Min.
  • The Practice of Care: How to Keep Track Without Losing Your Mind
    Nov 5 2025

    In this episode, we’re discussing the hidden structure behind caregiving, not the medical charts or paperwork, but the systems, rhythms, and habits that keep you steady when life feels unpredictable.

    Whether you’re new to caregiving or have been doing it for years, this conversation is about how to develop your practice of care, the mix of organization, mindset, and repetition that helps you show up day after day.

    I share how I went from feeling scattered and reactive to building simple systems that created space for calm and clarity. You’ll hear about the early chaos, the small shifts that changed everything, and how creating a care binder became one of the most grounding tools in my caregiving years.

    ✨ Key Takeaways:

    * What a practice of care really means and how it evolves over time

    * How small systems create breathing room in the middle of chaos

    * Practical ways to begin building your own structure, even if it’s just a notebook or phone note

    * Why preparedness isn’t about perfection, it’s about peace of mind

    * The role a care binder can play in helping you hold what you’ve learned

    💡 This episode is for you if …

    * You’re tired of keeping every detail in your head and need a place to start

    * You want caregiving to feel more intentional and less overwhelming

    * You’re craving structure but don’t know where to begin

    * You’re learning how to balance control with compassion

    💬 Let’s Stay Connected:

    If today’s episode resonated with you, share it with another caregiver who might need this reminder that they’re not alone.

    What’s one part of your caregiving routine that could use a little structure or support? I’d love to hear what you’re building into your own practice of care.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betweennowandnext.substack.com
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    30 Min.
  • If I Had a Community - How I’d Build My Care Team
    Oct 29 2025

    In this episode, we’ll discuss one of caregiving's most complex and freeing parts: asking for help.

    Whether you’re a solo caregiver, part of a family trying to coordinate responsibilities, or somewhere in between, this episode explores how to build the support system you need (and deserve).

    I share how I learned to move from doing it all myself to inviting others in, even when it felt uncomfortable. We’ll talk about the emotional side of delegation, how to communicate your needs clearly, and why no caregiver should carry this alone.

    Key Takeaways:

    * Why asking for help can be so tricky, and how to start

    * The difference between needing support and having it

    * What a healthy, sustainable care team looks like

    * How to delegate and set boundaries without guilt

    * Where to find community if you don’t have support yet

    💡 This episode is for you if…

    * You’re trying to manage caregiving mostly on your own

    * You struggle with guilt or control when others step in

    * You want to build a stronger, more sustainable support circle

    🧭 Caregiver Resources Mentioned

    If you’re looking to start building your own circle of support, here are a few trusted communities and organizations that can help you begin:

    * Family Caregiver Support Network Facebook Group

    * Daughterhood: The Podcast & Community for Caregivers

    * Alzheimer’s Association

    * Diabetes Association

    * Council on Aging

    * AARP Family Caregivers Discussion Facebook Group

    * Family Caregiver Support Group Facebook Group

    * Caregiver Corner Facebook Group

    Each offers a slightly different education, peer connection, encouragement, or resource, but they remind you that you’re not alone in this work.

    💬 Let’s Stay Connected:

    If this episode encourages you to take even one small step toward asking for help, share it with someone who might need to hear the same reminder.

    What’s one area of your caregiving life where you could use more support right now?

    Comment below your story; it might help someone else feel seen.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betweennowandnext.substack.com
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    36 Min.
  • The Reality of Care: What It Looks Like Day to Day
    Oct 15 2025

    In this episode, we’re removing the curtain on what caregiving looks like, the real, unfiltered version that most people don’t discuss.

    Whether you’ve just stepped into caregiving or been doing it for a while, this one’s for you.

    I share stories from my earliest caregiving days when my routines changed completely, sleep disappeared, and I learned what it meant to carry the invisible weight of care.

    If you’ve ever wondered why caregiving feels like a full-time job that no one trained you for, this episode will help you feel seen, grounded, and less alone.

    Key Takeaways:

    * What the day-to-day reality of caregiving actually looks like

    * How my routines, relationships, and sense of self changed

    * The invisible mental load every caregiver carries

    * How I learned to define “success” in caregiving

    * Small wins and rhythms that helped me find steadiness again

    💡 This episode is for you if…

    * You’re stepping into caregiving and want to know what to expect

    * You feel stretched thin and unseen in your daily routine

    * You’re trying to balance care for others with care for yourself

    💬 Let’s Stay Connected:

    If today’s episode resonates with you, share it with another caregiver who might need this reminder that they’re not alone.

    What’s one part of your daily routine that’s changed since caregiving began? Hit reply or comment below. I’d love to hear your story.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betweennowandnext.substack.com
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    44 Min.
  • Am I a Caregiver? Recognizing the Role Before It Has a Name
    Oct 3 2025

    You don’t have to wait for a crisis to realize you’re a caregiver. In fact, many people are caregivers long before they ever use the word.

    This episode is all about recognition. We’re exploring how caregiving often starts quietly in small moments of support, advocacy, and showing up for someone else’s well-being. Have you ever wondered, “Does this count?” or “Is this caregiving?” This episode is for you.

    I’ll share stories from my journey, especially the moments before, when I didn’t yet call myself a caregiver but was living the role all the same. We’ll also bust myths, walk through different types of caregiving, and help you name this part of your story.

    ✨ Key Takeaways:

    * Signs you may already be a caregiver (even if you don’t call yourself one)

    * The early, invisible ways caregiving begins

    * Common misconceptions that delay recognition

    * Why naming your caregiving role matters

    * Awareness is the first step toward preparation and support

    💡 This episode is for you if…

    * You support a loved one but don’t consider yourself a “caregiver”

    * Have you ever wondered if what you’re doing counts

    * You’re anticipating future caregiving responsibilities and want to prepare

    * You want to understand better the emotional and identity shifts that happen when caregiving begins

    💬 Let’s Stay Connected:

    I’d love to hear your story, whether you’ve been in this role for years or are starting to identify with it. Leave a comment, message me, or share this episode with someone who might need to hear that their care counts, too.



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit betweennowandnext.substack.com
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    26 Min.