The Escape Plan Every Cancer Caregiver Needs 🚪


Self-Preservation

The Art of Micro-Moments: Finding Calm in 30 Seconds

You don’t need hours of self-care to reset your mind. Sometimes, 30 seconds is enough.

When anxiety takes hold, use micro-moments to shift your energy.

👀Close your eyes and take three deep breaths.
🤲🏼
Rub your hands together to create warmth and place them over your heart.
🎶
Listen to a familiar song that brings back a comforting memory.
🕯
Smell something calming—a candle, essential oil, or fresh herbs in your kitchen.
🙆🏻‍♀️
Stretch your arms overhead and roll your shoulders back.

These tiny actions may seem small, but they create a pattern interrupt—a break in the anxiety loop that helps you feel more in control. Next time scanxiety creeps in, give yourself the gift of a 30-second reset.

Sponsor

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Caregiving can feel overwhelming—your schedule is packed, your energy is low, and it seems like there’s never time for YOU. But what if you could reclaim a few precious moments of calm and clarity each day?

With Revive in 5, you can. This self-paced program is designed for caregivers like you, offering five unique 5-minute guided breathing exercises to help you prioritize your own care without taking time away from your loved one.

Here’s what you’ll gain:

❤️ Simple Stress Relief: Release tension with quick, effective techniques tailored for busy caregivers.

❤️ A Clearer Mind: Refresh your focus and improve your ability to tackle daily challenges.

❤️ A Renewed Spirit: Reconnect with yourself and feel more balanced in just 5 minutes.

❤️ Anywhere, Anytime Support: Access your exercises whenever you need a moment of calm.

This isn’t just about surviving caregiving—it’s about reviving your energy and showing up for your loved one with a full heart and clear mind.

Ready to feel more like YOU again?

Join Revive in 5 today and discover the power of small moments to create big changes.

Click below to learn more and take the first step toward the self-care you deserve.

Your time matters. Your care matters. You can make all the difference in just 5 minutes a day,

New Episode: The Cancer Caregiver Podcast

The Escape Plan Every Cancer Caregiver Needs

A simple but powerful strategy to break free from scanxiety before and after medical visits.

Scanxiety is real...and it’s exhausting!

You finally catch your breath, and suddenly, another medical appointment looms, stealing your peace. If this cycle sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

That’s why I created the ESCAPE Plan, a tool designed to help caregivers like you break free from the anxiety spiral.

ESCAPE stands for:

Engage your senses – Find comfort through touch, sound, scent, or sight.
Shift your focus – Distract your mind with puzzles, sorting, or simple tasks.
Create something – Tap into creativity for a sense of accomplishment.
Activate your body – Use movement to shift your emotional state.
Play with purpose – Lean into joy through small moments of fun.
Express through art – Use music, writing, or crafts to release emotions.

The key? Finding one thing that actually works for YOU. Not what should work, but what truly helps you breathe easier and feel grounded.

Take a moment today—what’s the one escape tool you’d actually try? Write it down. Say it out loud. And, if you’re feeling bold, hit reply and tell me. I’d love to hear what works for you.

Need more support? Listen to this week’s episode and learn more about the ESCAPE plan and start putting yours together today.

[Listen to the full episode here]

Cancer Caregiver Support

  • Would you like to speak with a person who knows exactly what you're going through? Find a mentor for free through Imerman Angels.
  • Interested in exploring ways to institute your ESCAPE plan? Find creative support through a Twist out Cancer Twistshop.
  • Looking for help with staying near a medical facility that is far from home? Chekc out the American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge.

How often do you try to LOOK like you have everything under control but are really falling apart inside?

Hit REPLY to this email and let me know!

Self Preservation Tool

The "One-Thing" Commitment

Overwhelmed by the idea of prioritizing your own care? Let’s make it simple.

Pick ONE thing.

Instead of trying to overhaul your entire coping strategy, focus on one small, accessible action from the ESCAPE Plan.

Maybe it’s listening to a calming song. Maybe it’s stretching your arms overhead. Maybe it’s coloring a page in a book.

The goal is to make it so easy that you can actually do it.

Once you start incorporating this one thing, you’ll create a habit of self-preservation, that you can use even on the toughest days.

I'm really happy to have you here!


This was a weekly dose of support for you... a cancer caregiver trying to learn how to support yourself so you can support your loved one. One email a week to help you learn ways to prioritize your own care and become aware of resources in the cancer community.

This newsletter and the Cancer Caregiver Podcast exist for you because... life's short, cancer sucks but you DESERVE joy! ❤️

If you'd like to explore other ways to work with me, learn how to focus on your own self-preservation, and share this message with other caregivers here are some options for you.

  • 🙋🏻‍♀️ Take the Revive in 5 course and discover how you can transform your stress into calm and help you show up for your loved one with renewed energy in just 5 minutes a day. See if the program is the right fit for you.
  • ☎️ Invite me to speak to or facilitate a workshop for your organization or group. Reach Out

Meet me on 🥳 Instagram or 🙋🏻‍♀️ Linkedin

Listen to The Cancer Caregiver Podcast on:

Apple Podcasts / Spotify

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The Cancer Caregiver Newsletter

Every week, The Cancer Caregiver newsletter delivers actionable insights that help cancer caregivers prioritize their well-being with practical self-preservation strategies like mindfulness, meditation, and breathing exercises—all grounded in real-world caregiving experiences and over a decade of expertise in yoga and meditation.

Read more from The Cancer Caregiver Newsletter

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Caregiver Guilt

Self-Preservation Embracing Guilt-Free Caregiving As a cancer caregiver, it’s easy to feel like you need to be "on" all the time, always focusing on the needs of your loved one. But in the midst of constant care, it’s easy to forget that you need care too. Unfortunately, when you do take a moment for yourself, you may find yourself overwhelmed by guilt. It’s that nagging feeling that you’re being selfish, or that you should be doing more for your loved one. Here’s the reality: guilt is a...