As a mom we are constantly stretching ourselves into a million different directions as we micro manage and meet the needs of our partners, family, career and social lives.
This can be exhausting and living up to our own ideals is often the cause of mom burn out.
So how do you prevent yourself from burning out when you need to bring your A game to the table?
I share 5 tips that have worked for me over the last 27 years.
5 Ways to prevent mom burnout
1. Make a to-do list
Your day can get extremely busy, very quickly, especially if you leave it up to chance.
I prefer to write a to do list the evening before and update it first thing in the morning after looking at my emails. You may prefer to compile your list when you have a quiet moment with your morning coffee.
On your list write down what you need to do during the rest of the day. Mark each one off as you complete the task.
Seeing your tasks written down can make them more manageable.
Be realistic and flexible with your list and don’t be too hard on yourself when you don’t tick off everything.
There is always tomorrow.
Always put urgent tasks at the top of your list.
When you write up your list up for the next day, transfer any uncompleted tasks from the previous day to your new list.
2. Learn to say NO
This has even hard for me, until last month when I did a time management exercise and realised just how much time I was spending building other people’s businesses for no pay, when I should have been building mine.
For people-pleasers,especially, this may be a particularly daunting task as they don’t want to upset or disappoint anyone.
I find it worked to start practising saying no to the things that you find stressful, and start saying yes to what makes you happy.
It won’t be easy at first, but the key is to practise, practise.
3. Make sure you get fresh air and exercise
I work best after refocusing in nature.
A walk on the beach or park are often enough to change my mood and thoughts.
You could try to wind down and clear your head by going for a jog, hiking, attending a yoga class or meditating.
The rush of endorphins after a workout will leave you rejuvenated, and will allow you to tackle your tasks with a fresh perspective.
4. Practise breathing
We spend so much time hunched over our desks and in cars that we have very little time to concentrate on our posture and be mindful of our breathing techniques.
Deep breathing can alleviate that anxious feeling you get when you are faced with something stressful.
If a stressful situation should arise, you can sit up straight, relax your shoulders, close your eyes and inhale and exhale deeply.
Continue breathing until you feel better.
You will then be ready to tackle the problem.
5. Get enough sleep
Getting a good night’s rest is the best way to start a new day.
Inconsistent sleeping patterns can often contribute to anxiety and stress. By consistently getting enough sleep, you will be well rested and in a better headspace to handle daily stressful situations.
To restore your natural sleeping rhythm start by setting your alarm at an appropriate bedtime each evening.
