There is very little that is easy in any stepfamily, and the level of stress you feel on any given day can range from tolerable to paralyzing. Every now and then, you'll get a glimpse of a less stressful life and feel satisfied and confident with your role. Then just when you think you've got it all figured out, you're hit again with a wave you never saw coming, and your feet, already treading so carefully, are knocked completely out from under you. The stress is suffocating and heavy. The future looks anything but hopeful.

You know you're under too much stress when you feel out of control. The physical, mental and emotional effects are unmistakable. You have more negative thoughts than positive ones, and your level of satisfaction with your life drops considerably. It's tough to see beyond the next decision you have to make, the next visit with your stepkids, the next encounter with their mom. There's hope, though, and it's found in regaining a little control.

Even when we have so much to deal with, when we have some control over certain aspects of our lives, we feel less stressful, and that means that we can be more productive. When we reduce the stress, we can move forward in our lives, accomplish and learn. We can more quickly deal with the negatives and restore the hope and enthusiasm that we need to enjoy our lives.

The Plan…

The Stepmom's Plan for Less Stress is divided into four parts. Each week of the Plan focuses on one aspect of your life and offers steps that give you guidance and direction:

The weeks will overlap, of course, but with the Plan, you can focus more on one target at a time. And that will help, too, because narrowing your focus helps overcome stress all by itself. Good luck!