Motherhood is not an easy job no matter what situation you’re in. Whether you have 1 child or 6. Whether you’re a working mom, stay-at-home-mom, or a work-at-home-mom it is tough on all of us. How it is tough on us however can be different. What situations make us tired, overwhelmed or burned out can be different for each person. How can we avoid this burnout? What can we do to make sure we are taking care of ourselves while raising children?
Make Sleep a Priority
One of the first lessons I learned while pregnant with my first child I remember today, post-partum depression is higher among those who are not getting enough sleep. Make sure you’re taking any chance you have to sleep. This means letting things go at times. Perhaps when the babies get to bed at night, instead of staying up to do dishes, laundry, or other cleaning, just go to bed yourself.
Eat Well
Having fuel to keep you going is important. Take time to make sure you’re able to eat. As we get busy it can be very easy to forget to eat. Prepare meals ahead of time, make it easy to grab healthy choices as you run about your day.
Speak with Friends
Find someone or a group of people you can talk to and trust. If you do not have a close friend or family member to talk to consider finding a therapist. The act of being able to discuss your frustrations can be extremely relieving of anxiety, depression, and general burnout feelings.
Maintain an Identity Outside of Motherhood
Maintaining some sort of identity outside of motherhood is important for your own wellbeing. Feeling like motherhood is all you have can be isolating. Find a hobby, go out with friends or family members, do something on a regular basis that is without your kids.
Say No
Remember it is okay to say “no” and it is important to do so. Do not let others run you ragged. If you’re unable to find time for something, without creating burnout then it’s best you say no. Prioritize yourself, your kids, and your spouse first. It’s okay to want to help others but make sure you’re not doing too much.
Ask for Help
Do not be afraid to ask others for help when you need. You cannot and should not ever be expected to do everything on your own. Take help from others and do not feel guilty about it. Take a break and relax when necessary.
Schedule a Date Night
Make sure you find time for you and your spouse to go out without the kids. Schedule a date night where you’re able to take at least some of the time and talk. Find conversation topics that are not centered around the kids.
Make a List
Prioritize what needs to be done when. If something can wait in order for you to relax, then do so, let some tasks on the list move to the next day and get to bed early. Allow yourself to push things off in a manner that allows you to prioritize your own wellbeing.
How do you cope as you’re starting to feel burned out? What helps you relax and recharge?
Sarah
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The biggest thing for me that I need work on is not sweating the small stuff. When I get anxiety or frustration over small things, I realize I’m pushing myself too far. I like to have “me days” where my husband takes on the chores and spending time with our daughter while I go and do something for me like catch a movie, do some shopping that’s not for groceries or painting.
I had such serious mom burnout when my kids were little. It is just so hard! And we don’t have a family support system, so a lot of times I was on my own with no one to go to for help. Plus, I was a SAHM, so money was tight and I didn’t want to hire a babysitter.
YES! These are great tips! Sleep is mega important to me, as is saying “no.” I LOVE my lists in my Bullet Journal, and sometimes when I feel overwhelmed, I step back, list my priorities and to-do’s, reassess their importance, and find a few I can trim from the list 🙂
Mommy burnout is a huge thing with most of us mothers. I go through epps and flows of mommy burn out, but you have given great suggestions…thanks for sharing!
Mom burnout is a real thing. I think we have a tendency to want to take on too much. Saying no is super important.
I am in total agreement with all of these points! I am a single, work from home mum and have become accustomed to my burnout pattern, generally just before Christmas and mostly blogging related and trying to get everything done. This year a goal is to say yes more often… but also to say no. Sounds daft, but yes to getting out more and new experiences, no to people who take a little too much without giving back. Sim x
Date night is how I deal with my mom burnout. It gives me a break from my kids and that I can also spend time with my husband.
Oh god this hits home, for me its so hard to say NO – but it’s something that I have to learn how to do and it will make my life so much easier.
Thank you for sharing.
You definitely hit the nail on the head putting sleep as #1 because if you don’t get adequate sleep nothing else is happening and the stress triples or at least feels like it anyway.
I do most of these things except for one: Ask for help. My personality doesn’t allow me to ask for help. I figure I can do it on my own. I’d rather not “bother” people. You know?
Saying no has become a big thing for me. Some people like it, some don’t. I find it’s best for my mental health to prioritize.
Asking for help is something I’ve learned to get more comfortable doing. It takes little to ask
Mom Burn Out is real and this is something that must be addressed. Thank you for sharing these tips. I agree with you that it is important that we maintain an identity outside of motherhood. 🙂
Say No is something I personally have learnt to do in a painful way. I always love to see and make everyone happy. So when I refuse to do something, I feel guilty. However, it does feel good because it makes feel like a grown-up. lol
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Great tips and they are all important. The hardest for me was to maintain an identity outside of motherhood. It’s so easy to lose yourself in the non-stop caring for others! It has definitely been a struggle.
So agree with this! Will definitely be going back to this whenever I’m feeling a bit run down!
These are awesome tips. So simple, yet I forget most days. I write this as I’m up well past midnight. I definitely have to eat better and to make sleep a priority. Thanks for the reminders.