Let’s be real—motherhood is a full-contact sport. No halftime, no substitutions, and definitely no locker room where you can take a break and scream into a pillow. It’s all gas, no brakes. And at some point, every mom hits that wall.
That “I’m so tired I could cry, but I won’t because that takes energy” kind of wall.
Yep, mom burnout is real. And it’s not just “feeling tired.” It’s the kind of exhaustion that seeps into your bones, fries your brain, and makes you forget what day it is. (I once put my phone in the fridge and tried to text from a TV remote. Send help.)
How Do You Know You Have Mom Burnout?
If you relate to three or more of the following, congratulations—you’re a fully initiated member of the Overwhelmed Mom Club:
- You fantasize about a solo trip to a deserted island (not Bali—just somewhere silent).
- You’ve microwaved the same coffee three times and still haven’t finished it.
- Your kid calls “Mom!” and you pretend you didn’t hear, just for five more seconds of peace.
- Your idea of self-care is peeing alone.
- You Google “how to be patient when your toddler is a tiny dictator.”
Now, let’s talk solutions. Because while running away to live with the penguins in Antarctica sounds tempting, it’s probably not a sustainable long-term plan.
How I Tackled Mom Burnout (And How You Can Too)
I hit my personal burnout peak sometime between my second kid’s arrival and my first kid deciding that sleep was optional. It took an intervention—by my mom, my husband, and possibly my cat—to remind me that moms are human, not machines. So here’s what actually helped:
1. Lowering the Bar (Seriously, It’s Fine)
Pinterest lied to us. Instagram lied to us. We do not need to be supermoms who handcraft organic, gluten-free dinosaur-shaped sandwiches while simultaneously working, meal-prepping, and reading bedtime stories in three different languages. Some days, survival is the win.
What I did: I let go of the idea that my house should always be spotless. That my toddler’s meals should always be balanced. That every meltdown needed a perfectly patient response. Spoiler: Nothing exploded when I relaxed a little.
2. Calling in Reinforcements
I used to think asking for help meant I was failing. Turns out, burning out is the real failure. So I took the help. My mom swooped in like a hero. My husband learned to read “I’m about to lose it” in my eyes and took over when needed. Even our cook didi showed up at the hospital when my baby was born, ready to help—because it takes a village, and I’m forever grateful for mine.
What you can do: If you have people who can help, let them. If you don’t, outsource what you can—food delivery, a cleaning service, even just swapping babysitting favors with another mom. No one wins a prize for doing it all alone.
3. Mom Time = Non-Negotiable
You know how flights always say, “Put on your oxygen mask before helping others”? Yeah, motherhood is basically the same thing. If we run on empty, everyone suffers (and by everyone, I mean mostly us).
What I did: I carved out sacred mom time. Even if it was just ten minutes of sitting in the bathroom pretending to poop while scrolling memes. Some days, it was a solo grocery trip(yes, grocery shopping alone counts as self-care). Other days, it was a guilt-free nap, because rest is productive too.
4. Find the Joy (Even in the Chaos)
I won’t sugarcoat it—motherhood is relentless. But somewhere between the exhaustion and the constant snack-making, there are golden moments—baby giggles, sleepy toddler cuddles, and hilarious one-liners that make you spit out your coffee.
What I did: I started writing down the good moments—the tiny things that made me smile each day. When the burnout crept in, I’d read them back and remember why I do this in the first place.
5. Laugh. A Lot.
When you’re knee-deep in diapers, tantrums, and “Mom, watch this!” on repeat, you have two options: cry or laugh. I choose laughter. (Most of the time. Sometimes I cry into my cold coffee. Balance.)
What you can do: Find the humor in it. Follow funny mom accounts, read ridiculous parenting stories, call a friend who gets it. Because laughter won’t clean your house, but it will save your sanity.
Final Thoughts: It’s Okay to Be Tired, But Don’t Stay There
Motherhood is a wild, beautiful, completely unhinged ride. Some days will feel impossible. But you’re not alone. You’re not failing. You’re just human.
So, fellow tired moms—take the nap, ask for help, let go of the guilt. Because burnout doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It just means you’re doing a lot. And that, in itself, is proof of just how much love you pour into this crazy, wonderful, exhausting thing called motherhood.
Now, go reheat that coffee (again). You’ve got this!
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