Beating Burnout: Tips for Managing Mom-Fatigue

I have it, you have it. Show me a mom who doesn’t have it and I’ll give up my late night, post-bedtime bowl of cereal for a month. We’re all suffering from mom-fatigue. 

 

Signs of Burnout

Keep an eye out for these warning signs:

  • Irritability or irrational rage, especially toward your family
  • Extreme tiredness, even after a good rest or full night of sleep
  • Questioning your choices and worrying you may be a bad mom
  • Feelings of isolation, limited patience, and emotional depletion
  • Disassociating
  • Feeling a lack of motivation

Sometimes moms just have an exhausting day, but if you’re feeling this way day after day, week after week, it’s time to dig in a little deeper and focus on taking care of yourself.

Tips to Manage Mom-Fatigue

  1. Build a Support System. Make mom friends, connect with family members, build a village around yourself and your family.
  2. Make an appointment with your primary care physician and/or a mental health professional.
  3. Do not compare yourself to other moms or families.
  4. Move your body regularly and make sleep a priority. Exercise is as important as sleep. Both keep your body physically happy and healthy.
  5. Plan breaks from mom-ing. Go on a weekend retreat. Book a babysitter for a date night or moms’ night out.
  6. Find a hobby outside of parenting. It can be gardening, photography, writing, etc. Find something you love and invest your time.

Take care of yourself, mama. Your family wants to see you happy & thriving; you deserve to be happy & thriving. Keep an eye on your mental health and check in with friends, family, and your doctor. Even when things seem hard and you’re dog-tired, you are so strong and so loved.

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