Do you have what it takes to become a caregiver? To dedicate your time and energy to taking care of a loved one who needs it?

Being a caregiver can be an overwhelming task, especially when doing it for the first time without experience. To make your caregiving journey easier, you must be willing to ask for help and to prioritize your wellbeing, so you can better show up for the other person.

On the show today, we have Ashley Jackson and Meriam Boldewijn. They’re both caregivers, caregiver advocates, wives, business owners, and authors. They have combined experience of over 24 years in caregiving. Ashley is the author of the book Last Travel Found while Meriam is the author of Caregiver 2.0.

Listen in to learn how to advocate for your wellbeing as a caregiver without feeling guilty. You will also learn how to love yourself and be patient with the caregiving journey so you don’t get burned out.

“You do lose yourself as a caregiver if you don’t take care of yourself.”- Ashley [15:48]

“You can do it all at once, but baby steps are also steps.”- Meriam [26:45]

What You Will Learn:

• [1:46] How Ashley and Meriam became caregivers to their loved ones battling terminal illnesses.
• [4:43] How Meriam became her ailing husband’s caregiver without any prior experience.
• [6:44] Ashley shares her experience caregiving for the first time to her then-fiancé.
• [8:50] The challenges of asking for help and information overload that they experienced as first-time caregivers.
• [13:08] The difficulty of finding the right information to help you balance caregiving and other aspects of your life. 
• [14:40] How to take care of yourself in small ways as a caregiver so as not to lose yourself in the process.
• [16:38] The horrible experience that is caregiving on the caregiver’s psychological and emotional health.
• [20:04] Learn how to trust your instincts and advocate for your wellbeing as a caregiver. 
• [25:08] Leverage the available opportunities to ask for help and regain your power.
• [27:52] Ashley's book Last Travel Found, a love story for her and her loved ones.
• [29:00] Meriam on her book Caregiver 2.0, which is about her story and techniques for caregivers to get out of burnout.
• [31:45] Know your worth and be patient where you’re without striving for perfection.
• [32:52] How love and support can help you be patient in your caregiving journey.  

Relevant Links:

• Meriam’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meriamboldewijn/
• Meriam’s Website: https://www.meriamboldewijn.com/
• Ashley’s website: https://timelessdreamevents.com/
• Ashley’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timelessdreamevents/