In fact, we sometimes pull our hair out wondering why and how and whyyyy.
So we experiment, like crazy and over the last 6.5 years we have come up with some stuff that works....
Let's call it 🔥 The Power Duo Playbook: How to Keep Love Strong & Stress in Check
I dunno about you, but do you ever feel like life moves at the speed of light, and instead of thriving as a power couple, you're just co-managing chaos?
Between work, family, and an endless list of responsibilities, stress can creep in and steal the magic from even the strongest relationships.
I started to wonder, what if stress didn’t have to be the boss? What if you could design a system—a Relationship OS—that helps you stay deeply connected, no matter how wild life gets?
Welcome to my work in progress, a set of experiments that I will from hereforth call The Power Duo Playbook—your guide to keeping love strong, energy high, and stress in check. It’s packed with 7 game-changing anchors to make sure stress is a guest, not the boss, PLUS two simple weekly rituals to reset, recharge, and realign.
Maybe they will work, maybe not - but lets face it - these ideas are better than continuing along the red line into the depths of misery where nothing is thriving and you are questioning your life choices on every level.
But let’s be VERY clear—this is NOT easy. Steve and I have been experimenting with this for years, tweaking, adjusting, and failing many times along the way. We are the first to say that navigating stress in a relationship is HARD, and we are absolutely NOT perfect. But we’ve found that having tools and rituals in place makes all the difference. And if it helps us, we know it can help others too.
OH and we are both ADHD and total stress heads, thriving together isn’t about avoiding stress—it’s about knowing how to navigate it as a team.
It's about recognising life is CHAOS and you need STRATEGIES and a GAME PLAN to keep yourself alive (ok but for real don't you agree???).
👇 Ready to upgrade your relationship game? Dive into the full playbook below! 👇
💞 THE POWER DUO PLAYBOOK: KEEPING LOVE STRONG & STRESS IN CHECK
(Because power couples need so much more than just a date night to help navigate this next level relationship)....
🔥 THE 7 ANCHORS: MAKE STRESS A GUEST, NOT THE BOSS
1️⃣ The 10-Minute Stress Dump ⏳
What it is: A safe space to vent, WITHOUT fixing.How it works: One of you says, “I need a stress dump,” and gets 10 mins to unload whatever’s on their mind. The other just listens, nods, and validates ("That sounds hard." "I get why you're feeling that.").
NO solutions unless asked. Then swap if needed.
"We listen and don't judge"
✨ Why? It releases pressure without turning into an argument.
2️⃣ The ‘We vs. The Problem’ Reframe 🤝
When stress spikes, it’s easy to feel like you’re against each other instead of against the problem. Flip the script:
Instead of: "Why are you so stressed about this?"
Try: "Okay, us vs. this stress—how do we tackle it together?"✨ Why? It shifts the energy from blame to teamwork.
3️⃣ The Reset Ritual 🔄
What it is: A go-to action that instantly reconnects you when stress starts pulling you apart.Ideas:
A 3-minute dance party in the kitchen
5 deep breaths holding hands and looking into each others eyes.
A walk + a dumb joke
Holding hands for 30 seconds in silence
Saying, “Pause. Love first. Stress second.”
✨ Why? It interrupts stress before it spirals into tension.
4️⃣ The Power Duo Pow-Wow 💞
(Weekly check-in for thriving co-leadership!)✅ Vibe Check: How’s this week feeling?✅ ‘Us’ Check: What’s working, what needs love?✅ Logistics Sync: What’s coming up?✅ Love & Play: How do we make sure we have fun?✅ Closing Ritual: Hug, high-five, or celebratory dance!
✨ Why? It keeps the relationship intentional & connected.
5️⃣ The “I Love You, But I Need 5” Rule ⏳💛
Sometimes, stress makes you snappy or distant. Instead of reacting in frustration, use the “I Love You, But I Need 5” rule:
“I love you, but I need 5 minutes to reset before I answer that.”
“I love you, but I need 5 mins before I can be a good listener.”✨ Why? It creates space before emotions escalate.
6️⃣ The ‘Coded SOS’ 🆘
For those moments when stress is really high but you don’t want to start a whole conversation:
Pick a word, emoji, or gesture that means “I’m overwhelmed but I just need love, not fixing.”
Example: A hand squeeze = “I’m not okay, but I need you close.”✨ Why? It allows support without over-explaining when stress is maxed out.
7️⃣ The Celebration Reflex 🎉
Stress can make everything feel heavy. Counter it with micro-celebrations for the small wins:
Nailed a tough convo? High five.
Survived a crazy week? Wine cheers.
Handled stress without snapping? Victory dance.✨ Why? It keeps the relationship feeling like a win, even in stressful times.
🎉 THE FRIDAY ‘FINAL LAP’ – WRAPPING THE WEEK LIKE A POWER DUO 🏁
(Because the best teams finish strong & start fresh!)
📝 The Fun & Flow Agenda (15-20 min – end the week on a high!)
1️⃣ The Week in Review (5 min) 🔄
✅ What was this week’s highlight? (Best moment, big or small!)✅ What was the biggest challenge? (And how did we handle it?)✅ What’s one thing we learned about ourselves or each other? (Deep or hilarious—both work!)
2️⃣ The “Did We Survive or Thrive?” Check (5 min) 🤔💃
✅ Did we feel more like teammates or co-workers this week?✅ Was there enough fun & connection, or did stress run the show?✅ One micro-shift to make next week smoother?
3️⃣ The Life Reset Ritual (5 min) 🏡🧘♂️
✅ What do we need to clear out before the weekend? (Lingering tension, to-dos, bad vibes?)✅ Household or biz stuff we can batch/tidy up so we don’t drag it into next week?✅ Mini ‘energy reset’ – 5 deep breaths, a song, a dance-off, or a goofy handshake.
4️⃣ The Weekend Vibes Lock-In (5 min) 🎉🔥
✅ What’s one thing we’re looking forward to this weekend?✅ What’s one way we can make sure we rest & recharge? (Do-nothing time counts!)✅ Are we saying yes to too much? Or need to say yes to something fun?
5️⃣ The Friday ‘Sign-Off’ (1 min) 🎤
✅ One word for the week we’re leaving behind? (Chaos, growth, survival, epic?)✅ One word for the weekend ahead? (Play, love, recharge, adventure?)✅ High-five, hug, or celebratory end-of-week dance. Non-negotiable.
🔥 WHY THIS PLAYBOOK MATTERS:
Stress will always pop in—but now it’s just a guest, not the boss.
Keeps your relationship feeling intentional, playful, and connected.
Helps navigate love, life, business, and chaos as a team.
💞 Because power duos don’t just survive—they THRIVE.
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