The Self-Caregiver, Jeanette Yates

The Self-Caregiver, Jeanette Yates Helping women caring for aging parents take back their time without the guilt, even if it’s all on you.

I am a lifelong caregiver who understands the challenges of balancing self-care with the demands of caring for others. I eventually discovered the power of prioritizing our own needs without sacrificing the care we provide our loved ones. I now help caregivers create sustainable self-care practices that allow them to reclaim their time and reconnect with the moments and people they love. Through m

y podcast, YouTube channel, and online Self-Caregiver community, you get access to self-care resources to help you feel good, not guilty

My signature program, The EMPOWERED Self-Caregiver Cohort walks you through my C.A.R.E. Framework so that you can redesign your caregiving experience, achieving balance, wellness, and the joy of living fully for both you and those you care for. My mission is to help caregivers find balance, reduce burnout, and live fulfilling lives while still providing the care they are so passionate about giving.

This was one of my biggest struggles as a caregiver. Some things we do are needed. Some things we do are just to be kind...
11/18/2025

This was one of my biggest struggles as a caregiver. Some things we do are needed. Some things we do are just to be kind. But sometimes, the line blurs, and what used to be a "nice to do" turns into a "have to do." How did I get through it? A process that took time and patience. (And I wrote all about it, so that you could get through it too!) Grab your copy today: https://www.theselfcaregiver.com/book

Understanding what you want and need is the first step in figuing out what type of boundary you should build and how. Th...
11/13/2025

Understanding what you want and need is the first step in figuing out what type of boundary you should build and how. This may be tricky at first. "I need a weekend off!" you might say. That is probably true, but it is probably also true that you need to get more sleep or spend some time connecting with your husband or kids each day.

Narrowing in on what would be helpful right now (while you plan that weekend away) can help you know where to start your boundary. My first boundary was that I was going to be home with my family each evening, not running back and forth to my mom's house. How did I manage that and make sure she was taken care of?

These are the things I talk about in my book, From Guilt To Good Enough. Get your copy today! Available on Amazon or at https://www.theselfcaregiver.com/book

11/12/2025

What would our country do without caregiving youth?

Dr. Connie Siskowski, founder of American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) and her team work tirelessly to support and raise awareness for the over 5 million children ages 18 and under providing significant care for loved ones.

On my most recent episode of From Guilt To Good, we discuss the struggles of caregiving youth and how AACY is changing their lives with their programs, initiatives, and advocacy.

Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2362303/episodes/18154471

Do you ever get frustrated because no one respects your boundaries? Yeah, me too. Until I realized its not their job to ...
11/11/2025

Do you ever get frustrated because no one respects your boundaries? Yeah, me too. Until I realized its not their job to respect my boundaries. Would it be nice? Yes. Will that always happen? No.

When we focus on what we will or will not do, keeping the boundary becomes a little bit easier and allows us to get the space we need to tend to our lives outside of caregiving.

Read more about how I set boundaries as a caregiver, and how you can too, in my book, From Guilt To Good Enough: https://www.theselfcaregiver.com/book

11/10/2025

The stress caregivers face is overwhelming. Now, imagine if you are a child or teenager trying to go to school and just be a kid, while also caring for a parent, grandparent, or sibling?

There are 5.4 million caregiving youth in the United States. Dr. Connie Siskowski founded the American Association of Caregiving Youth () to support these young caregivers. In my latest From Guilt To Good Episode, I chat with her about her own experience as a child caregiver, the research she did during her graduate and post-graduate work, and how AACY supports caregiving youth both academically and in their caregiving journey.

Listen to the full interview on the From Guilt To Good Podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2362303/episodes/18154471

"Good caregiving isn’t perfect caregiving. You don’t have to do it all and without making any mistakes. Name what’s your...
10/31/2025

"Good caregiving isn’t perfect caregiving. You don’t have to do it all and without making any mistakes. Name what’s yours and what isn’t, choose support that fits your reality, and let “good enough” be enough for this season. You’re not behind. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re here—and that’s enough for today."

Read the full article on Substack here: https://open.substack.com/pub/selfcaregiver/p/when-we-call-it-guilt-and-it-isnt?r=3kiq3g&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

Boundaries are very hard with parents, especially those with which we have a complicated connection. For me, it helped t...
10/30/2025

Boundaries are very hard with parents, especially those with which we have a complicated connection. For me, it helped to start small. I knew the boundary I needed to set, but it was overwhelming, so I started with the simple things. Not answering every text and call. Not stopping by after date night with my husband. Feeling success with these small boundaries helped me prepare for the bigger ones to come.

It is ok to want your loved one to be happy. I wanted that for my mom too. But there came a time that what she wanted, w...
10/28/2025

It is ok to want your loved one to be happy. I wanted that for my mom too. But there came a time that what she wanted, what she had always told me would make her happy, was actually hurting her. She wanted to be home, but it was no longer safe. I had to decide, happy or safe. I chose the latter. it turns out, in the end, she was given more time, more opportunities to experience happiness, in a safe and caring environment. And I was able to be a part of that without feeling burned out or guilty.

10/27/2025

"Caregiving wasn't about filling in the gaps at the expense of leaving holes in my own life."

In this week's podcast episode, I read a short excerpt from my book, From Guilt To Good Enough. Go check it out: https://open.substack.com/pub/selfcaregiver

10/24/2025

The wellness industry will tell you that you just need their product or service to feel balanced, better, or at peace. That is misleading. In my latest bonus episode on Substack, I discuss why vague words, or green words as they are called in marketing, are potentially harmful, especially to worn-out caregivers and what we can do about it. Find the full episode on my Substack @ theselfcaregiver

Somewhere along the way, I confused being my mom's caregiver with being her healer. I wanted to fix her, I wanted her to...
10/23/2025

Somewhere along the way, I confused being my mom's caregiver with being her healer. I wanted to fix her, I wanted her to be better, to be well. This caused two main problems: my hypervigilence and never being able to turn off "caregiver" mode (much less put my phone on DND). it also led to frustration...I kept doing more hoping she would get better enough to not need so much from me, so that we could go back to a less frantic relationship. And honestly, I wanted my mom back. But I was not her savior. I could not heal her. When I let that go, it allowed me to make better choices for her care. It allowed for more gentle caring, of her and of myself.

Address

Jacksonville, FL

Telephone

+19044676875

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Self-Caregiver, Jeanette Yates posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Self-Caregiver, Jeanette Yates:

Shortcuts

Share

Category