If you are a single parent, it can be hard to relate to someone who can lean on their
partner for emotional and financial support. Think of all of the other single parents in
your life and reach out to them offering your help while also seeking help from them.
This could mean helping to watch each other's children or just simply having
someone to talk and relate to can feel like you are taking a weight off of yourself.
Schedule facetime/video calls with any trusted adult in your child(ren)'s life. Whether
it is a non-custodial parent, grandparent, etc. ask them if they would be interested in
chatting with your child, even if it's for 20 minutes. Now that is 20 minutes where you
can be uninterrupted to get things done or relax, and you know that they are
interacting with someone you trust.
You cannot do everything alone. If you have a trusted neighbor or friend that's
COVID safety is equivalent to yours consider asking them to "join your bubble".
A parent who is raising a child that is struggling has different challenges than other
parents. When thinking about how to expand your bubble consider opting for
another parent/parents who are also raising a child that is struggling because they
get it. Or go with someone whom you know can handle watching your child.
Challenges Unique to Single Parents
Many essential jobs can be very taxing on a person's body. Be mindful of the food
you put into your body and use it as fuel. Try to eat filling meals full of carbs and
protein often so that you have as much energy as possible to tackle your day.
If you are an essential worker going out into the general public, having to enforce
your company's COVID policies, and dealing with tense situations are all draining.
Prioritize your mental health and continue to check in with yourself about how you
are really doing.
If you feel comfortable, consider talking to your boss about your burnout and how
your work hours/workload impacts it. If you don't feel comfortable talking to your
boss, think about what you can do to alleviate work stress. Set hard boundaries for
your working hours, turn off notifications after those hours, and take your time
responding to emails in general.
If you work on a computer all day make it a point to unplug from technology when
you are not working.
Manage Your Work-Related Stress