Mom burnout: 3 healthy ways to regain your momentum

Being a mom is one of the most difficult yet rewarding experiences. Raising a child is not for the faint of heart, and when paired with work responsibilities, a lack of sleep, and other obligations, it is easy to see why so many moms experience burnout.

Many moms push past burnout for the sake of their family, and while this may be necessary, it is important to address the underlying cause of burnout and try and restore a healthier state of mind as not only will it make you feel better, but it will allow you to be a more effective parent.

Below is a closer look at some healthy ways you can manage and mitigate mom burnout. While mom burnout may seem imminent, there are a number of things you can do to help prevent it and regain your momentum.

1. Prioritize your mental wellbeing

Burnout, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a feeling of mental energy depletion or exhaustion that can cause an increase in detachment and an increase in negativity. Burnout is frequently experienced in jobs with high demands, and being a mom is one of the most demanding jobs.

As a mom, it can seem like you are always on duty.

With such high workloads, it is important as a mom to prioritize your mental wellbeing. There are a number of ways you can facilitate good mental well-being, and below is a closer look at some healthy ways you can help support your psychological well-being.

Seek professional help

The best thing you can do for your mental well-being as a mom is find a therapist you like. Traditionally there has been quite the stigma regarding psychological therapy and mental health, but today, there is much less of a social stigma surrounding seeking mental care.

A therapist is a licensed mental health professional with the expertise to help guide patients through problems they may otherwise have difficulty navigating on their own. It is no secret that the mind is complex, and a therapist can help you navigate complex thoughts and feelings to help you get out of a rut or even burnout.

This is also a great first step as burnout can closely resemble other mental health conditions such as postpartum depression. Getting professional help earlier rather than later can ensure you are getting the best recommendations for your circumstance.

Make time for mindfulness

Asking a new mom to make time for anything other than sleep and taking care of their baby is next to impossible but making time for mindfulness is something you can do no matter how busy you are. Mindfulness entails grounding yourself in the present moment without thinking about the past or future.

Sometimes it is easy to get carried away with everything that needs to get done, and you may end up forgetting to enjoy the present moment. This is particularly true for moms of new children. Children grow up in the blink of an eye, and if you aren’t centered in the present moment, you could miss it.

Taking the time to practice mindfulness with your morning cup of coffee or while you play with your child can help you appreciate the small moments a little more, which can help restore your momentum and avoid mom burnout.

Support your brain health

When people go about supporting their mental health, they often point to things like therapy, meditation, and mindfulness, but one important aspect that is often forgotten is supporting the brain at a cellular level. The brain is a highly complex organ with many nutrients and molecules that help it function at its very best.

MitoQ pure can provide your brain with optimal support at a cellular level. A well-supported brain can allow for optimal brain health, mental clarity, and focus. With two capsules a day, you could be on your way to having a mind that is well supported to enable you to continue being the best mom possible.

2. Take care of your physical health

Burnout tends to be thought of as a condition that is caused by psychological stress, and while your mental wellbeing plays a large role in burnout, your physical health also plays a pretty significant role. Many moms face difficulties regarding optimal physical health when they introduce a new individual to this world.

Some of the most common include sleep deprivation and struggling to find time for self-care. Below is a closer look at some ways you can improve your physical health to feel better and keep on keeping on.

Get sleep

Sleep plays an important role in both your physical and mental health. It can be immensely difficult for moms and new parents to attain quality rest. Breastfeeding moms tend to get the brunt of sleep deprivation since only they can feed the child if stored breastmilk or formula is unavailable.

Nearly all new parents have some degree of sleep deprivation, and while it is next to impossible to get a new baby to sleep through the night, there are a couple of things you can do to catch some Zs. One of the best pieces of advice is to sleep when your baby does.

Babies get anywhere from 16-14 hours of sleep each day, and while they don’t sleep for very long periods of time, catching some rest every couple of hours is better than no sleep at all.

An even better tip to help you get a nice long rest is to find someone who would be willing to take them off your hands while you sleep. This can be a family member or a nighttime nurse. Getting a full restful night is worth its weight in gold as a new parent, and it can be extremely helpful to ward off burnout and allow you to enjoy your little one without feeling crabby.

Hygiene

New babies are constantly beckoning for your attention, and showering or taking care of yourself tends to be at the bottom of your hierarchy of needs. While you don’t need to spruce yourself up for the Met Gala, a simple shower can go a long way to make you feel more like a person.

If you ask any parent, they will likely tell you that a nice warm shower is worth its weight in gold. Finding time to shower can be difficult with a new baby, and utilizing properly-timed naps or your significant other is a great way to afford you the peace and serenity of a warm shower.

Nutrition

When you are constantly on the move and have things to do, it can sometimes be difficult to find the time to eat. Nutrition is important, especially when you are pushing yourself consistently. Having a lack of quality nutrition puts your body at a disadvantage and can make it harder for you to get through your day and make you feel tired more frequently.

You don’t need to be a Micheline star chef to create nutritious, tasty food, but a little planning can go a long way. Utilizing things like food planning and meal prepping is a great life hack for moms as it makes your life much easier and eliminates the need to forgo nutrition in the name of convenience.

3. Be kind to yourself

One of the most important things to remember as a mom is that you are only one person and are doing the best you can. Many moms idealize the super mom that can have it all. They are put together, take care of their child, get all the sleep they need, and run a marathon right after giving birth.

These unobtainable supermom expectations can leave many moms feeling discouraged, but at the end of the day, you are enough and are trying your best. Your child and family don't need or want a super mom, but they want their mom and partner alongside them. Stay kind to yourself and remember that you are more than enough, and you don’t need to overextend yourself to meet some fictitious standard.

Conclusion

Moms can have it rough at times, and it isn’t uncommon for that to result in mom burnout. Mom burnout is something that has happened to almost all moms at some point or another, and that is because they are human like everyone else. When mom burnout strikes, taking the time to prioritize your mental and physical health and being kind and gracious to yourself are the best ways to regain momentum.