7 Things Moms Should Do Daily If Burnout Is Creeping In.

I’m going to keep this short today.

After all, I am a real life blogger, not the oh-so-perfect organised mommas you see on social media.

It’s time for a true life moment. I am having a tough month. Homeschooling two very busy boys, one of those boys neuro diverse, strong willed and highly emotional, is exhausting. Add that to needing to look after my own head after years of mental health struggles and it creeps up another notch.

It’s been a tough few months in our house and I am steadily creeping towards mom burnout again.

So today I want to share the 7 things I put into place when I feel this whole mothering job is getting too much.

Feel you have already reached burnout? Next week I will be deep diving into how to deal with mom burnout.

7 Things Moms Should Do Daily If Burnout Is Creeping in.

One. Scale back, way back.

We are about to start the new academic year, our third year of homeschooling. I am already getting dizzy just looking at all the options for our weekly schedules.

So I have decided this year to scale things back and I advise you to think about this too. Make a quick list of all the non-negotiables for you. Work, school or homeschool, swimming anything that is mandatory for your family.

Then list everything else you normally do and start scratching out anything that is unnecessary. If you are a people pleaser and used to saying yes, this might be difficult, but it’s a great lesson to learn.

Simplify your daily routine as much as possible for a calmer mom life.

Two. Meditate every day.

I already meditate daily as part of my own mental wellness formula. Want to be a happier mom? Meditation is your best friend. Giving yourself a few quiet, mindful moments is like a spa treatment for your brain.

Learning how to quiet your brain for 5, 10, 30 minutes is a gift for yourself and your family. You will have more chance of staying patient and calm when needed (every 15 minutes for me right now) if you give yourself this break.

Three. Forgive yourself.

I make parenting mistakes every single day and I am betting you do too. Even though it’s hard to accept and let go of these, forgiving yourself is a powerful form of self-love that all moms need.

Think about how the day went, what was good and what went wrong and then move on. Keeping a daily journal is the best way to get those thoughts out of your head before you head to bed.

Note: If you feel you are getting angry and losing control often, then please speak to your doctor or a trusted mental health practitioner. You don’t need to feel like this alone, and it might be time to get some extra help.

Four: Slow down your morning routine.

I would never suggest moms jump onto the 5am club routine, seriously how would that help an already exhausted momma? But I think it’s a good idea to slow down your mornings. You don’t need to be a morning person to slow down your mornings.

Yes, that might sound too good to be true, especially if your kids are in school. Let me share a few of my tricks to keep our mornings slow.

Prep. Get anything you can ready for the next day before you go to bed. Get out your clothes for the next day, set the breakfast things, make sure shoes and bags are ready to go.

Alone time. Get up 15 minutes earlier just to have a few moments alone. Or if you have mega early risers (like myself), set them up with a TV show and retire to your room to meditate, read, or do a few stretches. Alone time first thing in the morning can really change your day.

Routine. Get your kids and yourself used to being ready 10 minutes before you need to leave. It just feels less stressful!

Switch off. Stay off social media and, if possible, your phone completely before the morning rush is done.

Five. Hug, kiss and chat to your children.

Just a small hug, kiss or focused conversation where they have your full attention will make a world of difference to how your child and you feel. Connection and quality time are so important, but it often gets overlooked in this nonstop, full speed life we are all trying to navigate.

If you are feeling exhausted, it’s really nice to ignore the to-do list and just sit and cuddle or spend time with your child. The little things in life are always the best.

Six. Relax as often as possible.

I get it. Hour long soak in the tub or lunch alone is not possible. Free time is a luxury moms have.

That’s why I like to talk about nuggets of self-care. Grab every moment you can to relax. 5 minutes for a cuppa, read a few pages of a good book, take a deep breath (or 10), sit in your garden, do a few stretches in your living room, close your eyes (nap time is not just for babies!).

Never pass up a moment to yourself. These nuggets of self-care are a lifeline to a busy working mom, homeshooling, or stay-at-home mom.

Seven. Laugh.

Laughter is therapy. Increase those happy hormones and make light of the busy day.

Listen to something funny, watch a short funny sitcom, put on some music and do some silly dancing.

Whatever makes you (and your family) laugh, do it often.

I know how it feels to be exhausted and overwhelmed by life.

I’m no different from you.

The big change I have made in my 8 years of being a parent now is tuning into myself. Listen for those warning signs you are doing too much and heading towards burnout and take small steps to give you back a little control.

Signing off for this week. Time for 5 minutes in the garden for this busy mom. I hope you have a good day too.

Here with you.

Amanda x

Keep reading?

150 Things To Love About Yourself.

Feeling Like A Failure As A Mom?

The Ultimate Guide To Being A Happy Mom.