50: The System for Escaping the Default Adult Role with Paige Connell

Have you ever walked into a room only to be immediately asked where something is…while the person asking is standing closer to it than you are?If you’re the one who remembers doctor’s appointments, notices the milk is running low, signs the permission slips, buys birthday gifts, keeps everyone’s schedule in your head, and somehow becomes responsible for things simply because you noticed them first, you might be carrying what’s known as the mental load.In this episode, Paige Connell joins me to unpack the “default adult” role—how it develops, why it feels so overwhelming, and what it actually takes to build more equitable partnerships at home. We talk about the difference between helping and ownership, why “just tell me what to do” often creates even more work, and the practical systems Paige and her husband built to redistribute responsibility without resentment.If you’ve ever wondered why the dishwasher can somehow become the breaking point, this conversation explains why it’s almost never about the dishwasher.This episode is brought to you by The Entrepreneur’s Death Folder:Running a business means carrying a lot of important information—passwords, client details, financial accounts, workflows, and all the little things only you know.The Entrepreneur’s Death Folder gives you one secure place to organize it all, so if life ever throws the unexpected your way—whether that’s an emergency, illness, maternity leave, or even just a well-deserved vacation—someone you trust can step in without starting from scratch.It’s not about planning for the worst. It’s about making life easier for the people who would have to help you if they ever needed to.Because the best systems don’t just support your business. They support the people behind it.Buy Now >>Connect with PaigeWebsite: sheisapaigeturner.comInstagram: instagram.com/sheisapaigeturnerPaige’s Substack: sheisapaigeturner.substack.comPaige’s Free Mental Load Guide: sheisapaigeturner.com/mental-load-guideThe Just Us Girls Podcast: instagram.com/thejustusgirlspodConnect with Julie:Website: dallasgirlfriday.comInstagram: @thesystemforeverything