Episode 54

How One Breath Can Change Your Day: Mindfulness Made Simple

Published on: 30th July, 2025

Mindfulness is more than meditation — it’s a way of connecting with the present moment, finding calm in chaos, and reclaiming your power even in stressful caregiving seasons.

In this episode, Laura Vaillancourt sits down with Laura Alessio, a registered nurse and health and wellness coach, to explore how mindfulness can improve our lives and relationships, help us slow down, and even rewire the way we handle stress.

Whether you’re a caregiver feeling overwhelmed or simply looking for practical ways to bring more calm into your day, this conversation will leave you inspired and equipped to start small but powerful mindfulness practices.

👤 Meet Laura Alessio

Laura Alessio, RN, is a health and wellness coach passionate about helping people integrate mindfulness and self-care into their everyday lives. She founded the free Facebook group Stress Less with Mindfulness, where people can find a safe, supportive community for learning and practicing mindfulness.

📌 Topics Discussed

  • How Laura discovered mindfulness and integrated it into her nursing career
  • The link between mindfulness and stress reduction for caregivers
  • What mindfulness actually looks like (beyond meditation)
  • How multitasking rewires the brain — and why “monotasking” matters
  • The power of mindful breathing and micro-practices throughout the day
  • Using mindfulness to handle high-stress caregiving moments with grace
  • Reframing negative self-talk and shifting mental patterns
  • Practical tips for incorporating mindfulness into everyday tasks (even laundry!)

⏱️ Timestamps (Approximate)

00:00 – Welcome & how Laura and Laura met at a healthcare event

03:00 – What drew Laura Alessio to mindfulness and nurse coaching

08:00 – What mindfulness really is (and isn’t)

13:00 – Caregivers, multitasking, and how to rewire the stressed brain

18:00 – Micro-practices: one deep breath can shift everything

22:00 – Using mindfulness in challenging caregiving moments

27:00 – Reprogramming negative thoughts & self-talk

33:00 – How mindfulness impacts physical and emotional health

38:00 – Practical steps to integrate mindfulness into daily life

44:00 – Guided breathing exercise

💡 Key Takeaways

  • Mindfulness is not about perfection or long sessions — it’s about awareness in the moment.
  • Small actions (like a single deep breath) can calm the nervous system and shift your energy.
  • Multitasking is a learned state, but mindfulness can help rewire the brain toward focus and calm.
  • Mindfulness improves caregiving experiences by helping regulate your own energy and responses.
  • You don’t need extra time to practice mindfulness — you can integrate it into everyday tasks.

📚 Resources Mentioned

  • Free Facebook Group: Stress Less with Mindfulness
  • nursecoachalessio.com
  • Dr. Joe Dispenza’s work on brain rewiring and meditation

🤝 Connect with Laura Alessio

  • Website: nursecoachalessio.com
  • Facebook Group: Stress Less with Mindfulness
  • Instagram & LinkedIn: @nursecoachalessio

🌿 Connect with Laura Vaillancourt & the Life on Repeat Podcast

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could use more calm and clarity in their life. 💛

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast — and remember, you are not alone in this journey.

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About the Podcast

Life on Repeat: A Dementia Caregiver Podcast
A Podcast for Dementia Caregivers
Life on Repeat is the podcast for dementia caregivers who need a breath, a laugh, and a lifeline.

Hosted by eldercare consultant and dementia coach Laura Vaillancourt, each episode offers practical tools, expert insights, and honest conversations to help you navigate the caregiving journey with more clarity and less overwhelm.

Whether you're a spouse, adult child, or long-distance caregiver, this show is your companion through the complex world of dementia care—offering wisdom, validation, and encouragement every step of the way.

You’re not alone. You’re doing better than you think. And this podcast is here to walk beside you.

About your host

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Laura Vaillancourt

Laura has a unique perspective of dementia. She grew up spending time in the nursing home wing of the hospital her mother worked at in a rural community in the Pacific Northwest. She learned from a young age the importance and impact that connecting with those that have memory impairment can have. This early exposure shaped her perspective and fostered her passion and love of working with those who experience and live with dementia.

Laura is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Geriatric Mental Health Specialist and Eldercare Coach. She owns a group practice that specializes in serving the aging population and she has extensive experience as a consultant providing counseling, coaching and care management to families that are in the midst of making difficult decisions related to their loved one’s care and health transitions.

Laura's passion and professional experience has been working with individuals and family members that have been affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. She is a passionate speaker and educator on topics related to dementia and caregiving. She is the host of Life on Repeat: a Dementia Caregiver Podcast.