Life doesn't follow a single path, and every new chapter offers an opportunity to learn, grow and redefine what comes next. Whether you're considering a career change, preparing for retirement, balancing caregiving or looking for a renewed sense of purpose, The Midlife Academy offers free online events that help you explore what's next.
Register for an upcoming live event or explore recordings of past sessions at your convenience.
Real Talk on Caregiving in Midlife
Featuring Allison Breininger
Friday, September 25 | Noon to 1 p.m. Central
Midlife is supposed to be a time of stepping into your own. But for many in their 40s, 50s and 60s, it also comes with a sudden shift: becoming a caregiver. Whether you’re helping an aging parent, supporting a spouse or managing care for a loved one while balancing work and family, caregiving can quickly feel overwhelming, isolating and downright exhausting.
You don't have to navigate this journey alone — or pretend it’s easy.
In this session, we'll cover:
- The Midlife Sandwich: Managing caregiving responsibilities alongside your own career, family and personal goals.
- Real Talk on Burnout: Recognizing the emotional and physical toll of caregiving — and practical ways to set boundaries.
- Navigating the Invisible Load: How to handle the administrative, emotional and mental stress that nobody warns you about.
- Self-Care That Actually Works: Moving past surface-level advice to find real support and space for you.
Whether you’re brand new to caregiving or have been in the thick of it for years, this conversation will give you actionable tools, fresh perspective and permission to breathe.
About the presenter:
Allison Breininger is the founder and executive director of The Negative Space, an organization that aims to change the way caregivers are seen and supported. A caregiver for her husband since 2010, she experienced firsthand that caregivers are in "the negative space:" vital yet overlooked and unsupported. Allison has an MA in Education and spent twenty years teaching, training, directing, coaching and creating content in the realm of education.
