The people who hold you up need holding too — here’s how to be there for them.
November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to honor the millions of people who pour their energy into caring for others — parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, and community members who show up day after day. The National Alliance for Caregiving estimates that more than 53 million Americans serve as unpaid caregivers, and many experience significant stress, burnout, and isolation as a result.
This month, MY FAVE FIVE invites you to flip the script. Instead of only receiving support, focus on actively supporting the people who support you. These five actions will help you strengthen your most important relationships — and remind your caregivers that they’re not invisible.
Action Steps for November
1. Build a Circle of Care
Caregiving shouldn’t fall on one person’s shoulders. When you intentionally build a circle of care — a group of people who share the responsibility of supporting each other — everyone benefits. Your FAVE FIVE star is the starting point: five people who care about you and whom you care about in return.
Action step:Review your FAVE FIVE star in the app. For each person, ask yourself: “When was the last time I supported them?” If it’s been a while, make a plan to show up for them this week.
2. Share the Load
Support means being willing to carry some of the weight. It could be as simple as running an errand, listening when someone needs to vent, or taking something off a caregiver’s plate without being asked. These small gestures communicate something big: you don’t have to do this alone.
Action step: Think of one person in your life who carries a heavy load. Use the MY FAVE FIVE app to send them a message of gratitude, then follow up with a concrete offer to help — “Can I pick up groceries?” or “Want me to handle that?”
3. Care for Yourself Too
You can’t pour from an empty cup. If you’re someone who tends to give and give, mindfulness can help you check in with your own needs before they become a crisis. Even caregivers need care — and there’s no guilt in pausing to breathe, rest, and refill.
Action step: Set aside ten minutes today just for you. Use the breathing exercise in the MY FAVE FIVE app, then sit quietly and ask yourself: “What do I need right now?” Honor the answer.
4. Try a Strategy Just for You
When we spend all our energy on others, we sometimes forget to develop our own coping toolkit. This month, give yourself permission to explore a coping strategy that’s entirely about your well-being — not in service of someone else, but because you deserve to feel steady and strong.
Action step:Browse the coping strategies in the app and choose one that feels like it’s just for you — something that brings you joy or calm, not something you do for others. Practice it three times this week.
5. Reflect on Your Relationships
Personal growth comes from honest reflection. Take a moment to think about the give-and-take in your closest relationships. Are they balanced? Is anyone carrying more than their share? Reflection isn’t about keeping score — it’s about making sure everyone in your circle feels valued and seen.
Action step: Use the personal growth section of the app to journal about your relationships. Write down one thing each person in your FAVE FIVE does for you — and one thing you’d like to do for them in return.
Support Is a Two-Way Street
The strongest relationships are the ones where care flows in both directions. This month, let the people who hold you up know that you’re holding them too. A little gratitude, a small act of service, a moment of presence — these are the building blocks of lasting connection.
Open the MY FAVE FIVE app today and do something kind for someone who’s always kind to you. They deserve it — and so do you.
Remember: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or visit their website for online chat options.
