Respite Yourself

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Dear Respite Resisters,

Feeling guilty about wanting a break (away)? You are not alone. That new Caregiver word "respite" can trigger a cascade of emotions for Caregivers—relief mixed with guilt, hope shadowed by worry.

And Caregivers Afterward despite being complete in your duties, may feel a similar mix lingering mix of emotions - relief mixed with guilt, shame and/or just off balance.

Let’ just go ahead and crush the twisted mind that says taking respite is selfish. Instead, let’s explore why it's actually one of the most generous things you can do for yourself & others involved. And believe me, Caregivers Afterward need the recharge mode too.

Today's Powder Fling

• Dear Respite Resisters,

  • News & Views You Can Use

• Reason #1: Elevate Your Mind

• Reason #2: Boundaries & Permission

• Reason #3: Builds Long Resilience

  • Moving Forward: Any Time Respite

• Don’t Navigate Caregiver Afterward Alone

  • Your Soca Therapy Playlist

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News & Views You Can Use

Respite Care Finally, research that proves what exhausted Caregivers already knew: taking breaks makes you better at caregiving, not worse. Bonus points if you're a woman doing most of the heavy lifting - you get the biggest boost.

Caregiver Respite: An Essential Component of Home & Community -Base Long-Term Care One in five adults is a family Caregiver putting in 24 hours a week for 4.5 years straight. Meanwhile, 85% have zero access to formal respite because apparently we think super-humans don't need breaks.

In-home respite care in Dementia: An evolutionary concept analysis Researchers spent decades studying in-home respite for dementia families and discovered it's evolved into something simple yet revolutionary: temporary relief delays nursing homes use and saves Caregiver sanity. Who knew breaks were medicinal?

Measuring the Value of Respite, a White Paper Stop asking if respite saves money and start asking if Caregivers can survive without it. New research standards demand we measure what actually matters: whether Caregivers can stay healthy, employed, and human. Finally, researchers are flipping the script: instead of studying care recipients, they're focusing on the people doing 24/7 unpaid labor. Revolutionary concept: let Caregivers define what 'valuable' respite actually looks like.

Reason #1: Elevate Your Mind

Ignoring your emotional or physical “warning signs” like forgetfulness, emotional outbursts, and/or constant, unresolved fatigue can lead to breakdowns. It’s just like a thing you might use daily, a car, equipment or a tool, neglect leads to more challenges.

And if anyone says this is about selfishness; they’re wrong. This is about your survival & your effectiveness. When you're running on empty—physically, emotionally, and mentally—your caregiving quality and possibly the one being cared for inevitably suffer.

Respite allows you to return to caregiving with renewed energy, patience, and freshness. Studies consistently show that caregivers who take regular breaks provide better care, make clearer decisions, and experience significantly less burnout.

You always deserve the best version of you, not the exhausted, overwhelmed version that emerges from months or years without adequate rest & rejuvenation.

Caregivers Afterward also need to recharge for their soaring life ahead.

Actionable Step: You may need to recruit a stand in. But, let’s start somewhere & gain momentum. Go ahead & schedule one small respite activity this week, even if it's just a 30-minute walk or coffee with a friend. Notice how this brief renewal affects your caregiving the next day.

Reason #2: Boundaries & Permission

When you prioritize respite, you're teaching everyone around you—including the person you're caring for—that self-care isn't optional; it's essential. This is particularly powerful for Caregiver Afterward families who may be navigating their own complex emotions about rest and recovery.

Your willingness to take breaks gives others permission to do the same. It shows your care recipient that their wellbeing isn't solely dependent on your sacrifice, which can actually reduce their own guilt and anxiety. For family members, it demonstrates that caring for themselves isn't betraying the caregiving mission—it's supporting it.

Actionable Step: Talk openly with your family about respite plans. Frame it as "taking care of myself so I can take better care of all of us." A transparent communication helps normalize the concept of Caregiver self-care & will serve you in Caregiver Afterwards.

Reason #3: Builds Long Resilience

Caregiving is often a marathon, not a sprint. Without regular deposits into your resilience bank account, you risk complete emotional and physical bankruptcy. Respite isn't just about feeling better in the moment—it's about building the sustainable strength needed for whatever lies ahead.

Caregivers Afterward especially, understanding this principle becomes crucial for healing. The guilt many feel about "not being enough" often stems from never having learned that strength requires rest, renewal, and intentional care. Respite isn't a luxury; it's elevation for your humanity, the human spirit.

Actionable Step: Create a "Respite Menu" with options ranging from 15-minute to full-day activities. Having pre-planned options makes it easier to choose respite when you need it most, without the mental energy of starting from scratch.

Moving Forward: Any Time Respite

Whether you're in active caregiving or navigating life afterward, developing a healthy relationship with respite is transformative. It shifts the narrative from "I should be able to handle everything" to "I'm wise enough to know I need support."

For The Soar of Caregivers Afterward Society community, remember that respite doesn't end when caregiving does. Caregivers Afterward recovery requires its own form of intentional rest and renewal as you rediscover who you are beyond the caregiver role.

The travel opportunities we will explore together aren't just vacation planning—they're respite expansion. Sometimes the most healing thing we can do is change our scenery, meet others who understand our journey, and remember that we deserve joy, adventure, and peace.

This Week's Challenge: Identify one form of respite you've been avoiding because it feels "selfish." Commit to trying it this week, and notice how it impacts not just you, but everyone around you.

Remember, taking respite isn't abandoning your responsibilities—it's honoring them by ensuring you can fulfill them with your whole heart, not just leftovers.

See you next Friday,

The Soar of Caregivers Afterward Society

P.S. - Our Respite Ready Travel offerings will be offered specifically for Caregivers and Caregivers Afterward who understand that respite isn't selfish—it's sacred. (Soon Come)

🔥 BEEHIIV INCOME GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES:

 Don’t Navigate Caregiver Afterward Alone

Transforming yourself from intensive caregiving to a new life chapter requires support, resources, and community. That’s why I’m building The Soar Of Caregivers Afterward Society Community.

We also need a special community of lasting connection with good energy, authenticity and permission to feel joy again.

Our community offers being seen, known, heard & valued.  We strive to soar together with mutual investment in one another.Also, tools, coaching, activities & insights to help use rewire, reset & revive.

Because after what we’ve been through, we deserve all the freedom, community high vibes, laughter & fun and so much more. You’ll want to be with us in this community so get on the waitlist when we announce our launch. (COMING SOON)

Your Soca Therapy Playlist

The next time guilt & shame tries to imprison you, shift your mind to  Soca’s legacy of ancestral revolt. Their high vibration is definitely still impacting freedom throughout the universe. #socamusic

Your joy isn't selfish—it's sacred. Your healing isn't betrayal—it's honoring everyone you've ever cared for by showing them that love doesn't end in suffering.

The Soar Of Caregivers Afterward Society can’t erase the grief or minimize your losses.

Instead, it gives you permission to be gloriously, unapologetically, beautifully human—capable of both profound love and profound joy in the same heartbeat.