7 Ways to Combat Mom Burnout

 

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Guest Blogger 

Mom burnout is real. There are days you probably don’t feel like momming at all or just feel like a complete failure to your kids. You may even feel like you want to sleep… for the entire day.

You’re not alone.

Although it’s not possible to avoid mom burnout 100% of the time, there are ways to help you kick back in gear and be that amazing mom I know you are.

So What’s Causing Mom Burnout?

Overall, I think we can all agree that lack of sleep is one of the main reasons why mothers are always tired and feel burnt out.

A study by the American Friends of Tel Aviv University demonstrated that interrupted sleep makes us just as exhausted as if we never slept at all.

But even on the rare occasions, you get to sleep through the night you STILL feel sluggish the next morning.  So, what’s the deal?

The most logical explanation is because mom brains never shut off. Even when you’re sleeping your gears are still turning. Moms are just wired that way.

You have a never-ending list of things to do and when you cross off one item, 100 more takes its place. Sound familiar?

Not to mention things you never had to worry about before are now taking a front-row seat in your brain.

For instance, I must make sure my 1-year-old doesn’t use the walls of our house as an artwork canvas. Every day.

Of course, there’s the physical aspect of parenting too. Running around all day chasing kids can get tiring, but at the end of the day, it’s the mental exhaustion that can get you every time.

So now onto the meat and potatoes of this post.

While these tips won’t combat mental exhaustion entirely, they will help you feel better about yourself as a mom and a person in general. 

I wish I could tell you these are the magic steps to make everything better, but that’s not possible.

It’s what you sign up for when you become a mother, but there are ways to help the situation and these are the best of the best.

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Ask for Help

Ask for help.  It does not mean you are a bad mom or that you can’t handle your kids.  It just means you are human.  We all need help once in a while. 

I have been utilizing my husband more often lately and giving him a bigger share of the daily chores.  This has helped me tremendously. I can have more time for myself and I am able to get through my daily to-do list faster. 

Have your spouse give the kids a bath so you can clean or have them wash the dishes so you can fold the laundry.

Free your list up a bit so you have less on your plate and it will help prevent mom burnout. 

Relaxation

The best thing you can do is relax. Give yourself some needed “me time” or “self-care.”

It’s easy to forfeit time for yourself to clean the house that looks like a toy factory that got hit by a tornado instead.

You have to remind yourself that the house cleaning can wait once in a while so you can focus on yourself.

Simple things like taking a bath, going for walks, and even grocery shopping alone can count as “me time.”

I can’t even put into words how excited I get when I get to go grocery shopping alone! 

Just take 5 minutes a day or 30 minutes a week to focus on yourself or just sit down and do nothing. It will help brighten up your mood and make you feel like a real human being.

Meditation

Meditation might sound silly from first glance, but I promise it’s empowering and helps relieve stress, preventing mom burnout.

I have been practicing meditation for a few months now. After I get ready for the day, I go downstairs and meditate on the floor for 5-10 minutes before my kids wake up.

This has impacted my overall positivity tremendously. Even on super hectic days, it has helped me keep calm.

Just a quick 5-10 minutes in the morning, or whenever you can find the time, can change your entire outlook on the day.

If meditation isn’t your thing, I suggest trying yoga. Just spending 30 days doing yoga as a mom really changes your outlook on the day.

Socialize

Get out and socialize!  Go out with some friends for a few hours. Try a dinner or something fun like bowling. 

If you’re a stay-at-home-mom, join a local mom’s group. Most local communities have a group called MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers) where you can join and meet new moms around your city. It’s amazing.

Whatever it is, getting out of the house and doing something to break away from the daily routine can help spice up your life and make you feel more fulfilled.

If you can’t leave the house or are too introverted to go out, try conversing with other moms online. You can do this through different blog groups or just searching “your city name” moms on Facebook.

You can support each other and make new friends in the process. A good conversation or a day/night out is a great way to recharge.

Be Realistic

Stop trying to be “super mom” and make more realistic daily goals. 

Your to-do list may be so long that you are setting yourself up for failure and at the end of the day you get frustrated that you didn’t finish it all. 

Spread out the tasks that don’t have to be done immediately and remember the memories are what really count, not the chores.

Think about it from the perspective of the child. Will they care if the floors aren’t mopped today 13 years from now? No.

They would be more happy snuggling up on the couch with you watching a movie or just doing something fun.

Exercise

Believe it or not, exercising makes you MORE energetic, thanks to those endorphins. Getting in a good workout can give you a sense of accomplishment and make you feel great afterward.

 I suggest you find something you enjoy doing for exercise such as swimming, hiking or going to the gym. 

It can be hard to get motivated the first few weeks, but you will never regret a good workout and those endorphins are addicting!

Eat a Healthy Diet

I was living off coffee and protein bars for the first couple of months after my second daughter was born.  Having a toddler pulling at my leg and a baby wanting to be held constantly made it difficult to be a master chef in the kitchen.

But even that isn’t a good excuse to not eat healthily. When I finally started prioritizing my health and implementing easy healthy meals, I became much more energetic and positive.

Life Hack: Meal prepping and freezer meals help a TON when you have a busy schedule.

It may also be important for you to take daily vitamins to make sure you’re getting all the vitamins and nutrients needed on a daily basis.

Contact your doctor to see what they recommend.

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While feeling a little tired is normal for moms, do not count out your health.

It’s possible the tiredness is coming from an underlying iron issue or even depression.

Iron deficiency anemia affects 25% of women and most don’t even know they have it.

Schedule a physical with your doctor and get routine blood work done at least once a year to make sure everything is balanced.

How These Tips Will Help You

After doing these things for a couple of months I have noticed a drastic change in my energy levels and my overall parenting.

I also feel like I’ve become a much better mother. My children deserve the best version of me every single day and that’s exactly what I want to give them.

No matter how tired you are, just remember that this chaotic time will not last forever. 

Someday you are going to miss this hectic stage and wish you had small chocolate faces to wipe again. Someday our little ones will turn into teens and even adults, and with that will come a whole new set of worries.

Until then enjoy the present and embrace the chaos. We are all tired Mama, but I think we can agree that this motherhood journey is all worth it.  

About Guest Blogger Amber

Hello! My name is Amber and I am a mommy to two beautiful girls, ages 3 and 1.  I created cheerstomommyyears.com in hopes that I can help, relate and inspire others who have hopped on the Mommy Train. 

I currently work full time in engineering, but my passion is blogging.  I hope that one day I will be able to make a full time living from blogging so I can spend more time with my daughters and do what I love every day.

Follow Cheers to Mommy Years on Facebook.

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