Caring for Your Mental Health as a Foster Parent

Time management for foster parents is essential. There is only so much you can do in one day, so if it feels like your responsibilities are getting on top of you, tweaking your schedule could be a good place to start.  

You may be eager to complete some additional training or say yes to a day trip, but if doing so leaves you feeling stressed and overwhelmed, it’s okay to say no or postpone something that isn’t a priority for another day. 

If you continue saying yes when your schedule is already packed with appointments, meetings, and managing your home, it will become unsustainable and could lead to burnout. 

You don’t have to go camping to spend time in nature. If you have a garden, you could spend a few minutes between commitments just sitting outside, listening to the birds, and breathing in the fresh air. Sometimes that’s all you need to quiet your mind and bring you back into the present. 

You could also take a short walk around your local park, and if the children in your care tag along, it will be brilliant for their mental health too. Nature is healing and can remind you that there is beauty in the world, even if it doesn’t feel like that sometimes. 

You don’t have to go to the gym or run a marathon to reap the benefits of exercise. Just a short walk around the block or a gentle swim at your local pool can release those endorphins and reduce cortisol levels, relieving stress and helping you to feel happier.  

If you’re in a mental health slump, it can be difficult to find the motivation to start, so take small steps. Put your favourite playlist on and begin with a ten-minute walk around the block once a day, gradually increasing the time you spend walking. Before you know it, you’ll look forward to that time spent on your own, putting one foot in front of the other. 

One of the benefits of today’s technological world is that it has become easier than ever to access mental health resources for carers.  

At ISP, all our foster parents have access to the Exchange, which includes our handy well-being centre. With just the click of a button, you can find guided meditations, workouts, and delicious recipes that help you fuel your body and your mind.  

You can also download apps to support your well-being. If you find it difficult to wind down and relax, you may benefit from an app like Calm. And if you want to feel more in control of things like your schedule, to-do lists, and finances, there is a huge range of apps that can help manage your daily life too.  

The Hub of Hope is another practical tool that can help you find mental health support services in your local area.  

When we speak to our foster parents, they often tell us that their foster care support networks give them the strength to carry on. Although, as a foster parent, you spend the most time with the child in your care, you don’t foster alone, and sometimes you just need someone to offload to.  

Lean on your support network, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re struggling. At ISP, we offer mental health support for foster parents at every stage of your fostering journey, and our therapeutic fostering training can help you manage the stresses of everyday life.  

Connect with other foster parents to find out what self-care strategies work for them, and don’t forget – your supervising social worker is always there to support the well-being of your whole family.  

Sometimes, we can be our own worst enemy, and putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves can strain our mental well-being.   

As a foster parent, it’s only natural to want to do your best all the time because you’re passionate about changing a child’s life. But at the end of the day, you’re only human – and if things haven’t gone the way you’d hoped today, remember there’s always tomorrow.  

So, try not to be too hard on yourself – you’re showing up for the child in your care every day, helping them heal, and changing their life in ways you might not even realise. And that’s what truly matters.