You used to laugh. You made plans for the weekend. You had hobbies—actual ones. You had inside jokes, go-to coffee shops, little rituals that made you feel like you.
And now? You’re tired. You’re on alert. You’re always two steps away from a meltdown or a medical emergency.
Caregiving has a way of erasing the parts of you that aren’t in service to someone else.
But it doesn’t have to stay that way
These six ways helped me bring myself back. Not all at once. Not perfectly. But enough to feel joy, creativity, peace—and yes, plans—return to my life.
1. Schedule Something Silly (Even If It’s Just for 7 Minutes)
Laughter resets your nervous system. You don’t need an entire afternoon. You need a nudge:
- A TikTok comedy clip
- A silly podcast
- 10 minutes of memes with a friend
- A playlist of ridiculous ‘90s songs
Laughter brings oxygen, connection, and perspective. It reminds your brain: there’s life outside of caretaking.
➡️ Mayo Clinic says laughter boosts immune function, reduces pain, and relaxes your whole body for up to 45 minutes.
2. Make Micro-Plans (That Actually Happen)
Stop waiting for a free weekend. Start planning in micro doses:
- 20-minute coffee alone
- 30-minute walk with a neighbor
- A Friday night bubble bath with a locked door
Plans = anticipation. Even small ones interrupt the caregiving loop that tells you life is always urgent.
3. Rekindle a Low-Stakes Hobby
You don’t need to be “good” at it. You just need to enjoy it.
Try something that doesn’t require setup or performance:
- Adult coloring books
- Crocheting
- Audiobook reviews
- Dancing in your kitchen
Bonus tip: Set a weekly “hobby hour.” Same time, same day. Invite joy back.
➡️ Psychology Today reports that engaging in low-pressure creative hobbies improves resilience and life satisfaction in caregivers.
4. Reconnect With the Friend Who Feels Like Home
You know who they are. The one who doesn’t need updates, explanations, or a curated version of your day.
Text them. “I miss you. Want to talk this week?” That’s it.
Even if you just sit in silence on a Zoom call, that moment of “me too” breaks the loneliness. It’s hard to make plans with new people—but rekindling old ones is easier.
➡️ National Alliance for Caregiving shows caregivers with regular emotional connection are 33% more likely to report feeling hopeful.
5. Name—and Claim—Your Non-Negotiable Me Time
Put it on the calendar. In pen. Make it visual:
- Use a bold color
- Add a smiley or heart emoji
- Label it “Me Time: Do Not Touch”
Then protect it like you would a doctor’s appointment. No apologies. No justifying.
Because you need time to be no one’s caregiver.
6. Rebuild a Personal Routine That Doesn’t Revolve Around Care
Your entire day shouldn’t be a response plan. Design a rhythm that’s about you:
- Morning stretch and 3 deep breaths
- Tea before texts
- 1 page of a book before bed
These aren’t “just self-care.” They’re identity recovery.
➡️ Johns Hopkins Medicine found that even minimal personal structure reduces emotional burnout by 40% in high-stress caregivers.
Here’s What These 6 Shifts Gave Me:
- Inside jokes again
- Weekend plans (even if they were simple)
- A return to reading, walking, and cooking
- A sense of me that caregiving hadn’t stolen
It took intention. And yes, some trial and error. But it worked.
Start Small. Stay You.
You don’t need a vacation to feel like a person again.
You need 7 minutes. A laugh. A song. A sketch. A plan you keep.
Caregiving can reshape your world—but it doesn’t have to erase your joy.
Download your free Aging Parent Guide and join the waitlist for From Burnout to Balance—your roadmap back to the life that still belongs to you.
