Hello stepparents, and welcome. Thanks for spending some of your time with me today. Let’s talk about constant demands—especially the physical demands your stepchild makes of you. If you aren’t careful, they can completely take over your life!
We’ve all been there. I know I have. There’s your career, work meetings, school events, and extracurricular pick-ups and drop-offs for the step-kids (not to mention the extra driving if you’re navigating a shared custody and co-parenting schedule). Then add in grocery shopping, making dinner, and laundry, just to name a few.
Before you know it, the day is over. You’re exhausted and frustrated that you spent the entire day putting out fires and handling the absolute essentials, without ever getting to the many other “have-to’s”—let alone the “nice-to-do’s.”
This kind of day-to-day blended family stress is overwhelming and, ultimately, unsustainable.
What To Do About the Never-Ending List of Stepparenting To-Do’s
For me and for my clients, the first step to avoiding stepparent burnout is to step away from the hectic busyness.
Go somewhere quiet. Maybe it’s your bedroom, the bathroom, or even your car. Just be somewhere without noise. Find a space without someone needing your attention, without someone needing something from you, and without a task you have to do.
After a few moments, you will start to notice more of what’s going on within you. Ask yourself:
- What physical sensations do you notice?
- Are you feeling achy in your body? Is there pain or tension in your lower back, neck, or shoulders?
- Do you feel exhausted? Can you barely keep your eyes open?
- Is there tension in your chest or a knot in your stomach?
Just notice. You see, if you’re like me, you are so often running around doing ALL. THE. THINGS. that it takes away your space. It keeps you from noticing how you’re actually feeling and what you might need at any given moment.
So, I strongly urge you to take just a few minutes to:
- Stop.
- Get away.
- Get curious and notice.
It’s a gift! Do this for just a few minutes each day. Better still, try to find a few minutes two or three times a day to practice this check-in.
Creating this space for yourself not only allows you to be more aware of what is going on within you, but it also builds a highly effective coping habit. By giving yourself a few moments of intentional reprieve, you are creating a better relationship with yourself.
I’ll leave you with this: You give your time, energy, and attention to so many things and people on an everyday basis. Don’t you deserve just a tiny bit of that yourself? How can you forge a healthy relationship with anyone if you never take the time to listen to you?
Related Episodes:
- How Stepparents Can Choose Wisely Between Competing Priorities
- The #1 Cause Of Disconnect In Your Stepparenting
- How To Stay Sane In Stepparenting
Enjoying the show? Here is how to leave a review on Apple Podcasts:
- Open the Podcasts app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Navigate to the Synergistic Stepparenting Podcast.
- On the show page, scroll down to find the subhead titled “Ratings & Reviews.”
- Under one of the highlighted reviews, select “Write a Review.”
If you like what you hear, please give us a 5-star rating! Let us and others know what you love about the show.