How Can Moms Avoid Burning Out?

Tips to Prevent Burnout as a Mom

Are you struggling to maintain a balance between family, work and self-care? Worry not, we're here with a bucket full of suggestions to help save you from exhaustion.

Being a mom is TOUGH we won't deny, and on days when your babysitter cancels because she's sick, your husband has already left for work, the food is almost ready you just have to turn off the gas, you can't find your presentation pen drive because probably your kid might have thrown it somewhere or fed it to your dog, you're getting too late for the meeting which can’t happen without the pen drive, the clock is ticking and your child is reluctant to get out of the bed when all of this is happening at once, being a mom becomes even much TOUGHER! And before you know it, this turns into a daily routine. Yes, this is now YOUR LIFE! No doubt you are exhausted and emotionally drained! News flash: You are not alone!

Balancing all of it is such a task, and at this point, mom-burnout is inevitable. You are so engrossed in fulfilling everyone's needs, constantly worrying about your child, keeping everyone happy, making sure everything's perfect, that you totally forget about yourself. You being an overachiever and a give-it-your-all kind of woman, all of these situations leave you with nothing but an unsatisfactory feeling of harrowing emptiness. Even after doing it all, you feel unaccomplished and tired of the responsibilities. You just feel like running far away from your house, going to an empty land and shouting out loud, trying to get all the stress and emotions out! (If only that could help but NO! That's not the solution.) Not that you don't love your family (of course you do, more than anything else!) But that constant feeling of getting everything done for everyone and doing it right makes you so sick of always being the accountable one, doesn't it? What follows is unavoidable stress that does not agree to leave you even for a minute. It's okay Moms, it happens. We've all been there and know what it feels like. But don't worry, there are ways to sail through it, all you gotta do is be aligned with your thoughts and be intentional with your efforts.

The easiest way to save yourself from burnout is to commit to the right type of Self-care:

Self-care isn't just having bubble baths and me-time but a lot more than that. In this hectic life, we have got no time to stop and unwind. The first and most important thing to do is to PAUSE. Don't rush and take it easy. Stop living like you're on fire. Sit back, think and take one baby step at a time. Try to get sufficient sleep. You're always on the run to get things done and by chance, if you get some free time you might wish to watch your favourite show on Netflix (we won't deny that in the moment it feels like pure happiness) but it can't switch places with sleep. Its rightly said, people who sleep less, invite stress. Another stress-busting activity is to unite with nature. You have no idea how therapeutic nature can be! Go out, breathe some fresh air, stroll through the park in your neighbourhood, walk barefoot on the beach or simply lie down in the open to watch the sky change colours. Fifteen minutes of connecting to nature every day can do wonders to relax your mind!

How about igniting the sparks of romance with your partner? Honestly, swinging between changing diapers, clearing the floor of all the mess that your adorable little one has made, attending school meetings and shopping superman costumes, your romantic life sure takes a back seat! Now is the time to give sometime to the romance department of your life. Trust us, a delicious dinner with dreamy candle lights will refresh you in ways unimaginable!

Set a routine with proper rest pauses. Making a routine will make life so much easier for you. You will never have to be in a surprise of 'what's next'. You already have a lot on your plate and organising things well in advance will help you be stress-free and don't forget to add a generous amount of rest pauses. We know you are a supermom and want to quickly get things done but without rest, you're just going to invite stress, thereby being unhappy and in the end, doing nothing at all. Eat right and exercise daily. Without a surprise, we all know good food and a fit body has a direct impact on one's mental health. Eating right and exercising regularly will help you feel good about yourself and will keep your spirits high all the time. Evaluate everything. Check if you're moving according to the plan and appreciate yourself for all that you've achieved rather than constantly being worried about what's still left to be ticked on your to-do list.

Lastly, enjoy motherhood. You've been wanting to be here for so long, now that you're already a fabulous mom don't let tensions and stress get the best of you. Plan fun activities with your partner and your kids. Go for a picnic, take a break from the schedule, do special things for your little ones and just enjoy the moment. (For once, take pride in being unproductive.)

But remember, to avoid burnout is a constant process and not a one-time thing!

Self-care is a way of life that needs to be adopted and not an activity that is practiced only on selective days. Don't forget to take care of yourself amidst taking care of the entire family. If you're stressed or unhappy yourself, you can't focus on making everyone else happy! So, treat yourself right, not just with temporary self-care activities but with mindful habits and thoughtful routines. Learn to maintain the right balance. We know it's not easy! No matter how strong your self-care game is still on some days you will feel you've lost it all. But that's okay, get up again and do it right, learn from mistakes and try building a proper balance in work and family life. Sometimes being absolutely unproductive, resting and relaxing is all that you need to bounce back. Do it all and do it without any guilt. Don't let the feelings of shame take over your emotions. Understand that things take time and the key to is to be patient and mindful.

Lastly, make sure to love every day of this glorious motherhood-life. Now don't shy away and share with us your Burnout story.