Exhausted, Overwhelmed, and Done: The Truth About Mom Burnout
Feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and completely drained? Mom burnout is real, and it’s more than just being tired. Learn the signs of burnout in motherhood, why it happens, and practical, guilt-free ways to recover—without adding more to your plate. You don’t have to do it all. Here’s how to take care of yourself and feel like you again.
Outline:
Mom Burnout is Real, and You’re Not Alone
Introduction: When Motherhood Feels Like Too Much
What is Mom Burnout? (And Why It’s More Than Just Being Tired)
My Breaking Point: When I Realized I Was Burnt Out
Why Moms Are at High Risk for Burnout
A Few Ways to Recover from Mom Burnout (Without Adding More to Your Plate)
How to Prevent Mom Burnout Before It Happens Again
Final Thoughts: You Are More Than Just “Mom”
(10 min read)
Mom Burnout is Real, and You’re Not Alone
If you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or like you’ve lost yourself in motherhood, you’re not broken. You’re not failing. You’re just burnt out, and I see you.
Mom burnout is more than just being tired. It’s the kind of exhaustion that makes even small tasks feel impossible. It’s losing your patience over things that wouldn’t normally bother you. It’s feeling drained, disconnected, and wondering when you’ll ever feel like yourself again.
But here’s the thing: You can find your way back. It won’t happen overnight, but with small, intentional steps, you can start feeling more like YOU again.
Introduction: When Motherhood Feels Like Too Much
I had the realization that I was probably burnt out after months of waking up exhausted and feeling like I couldn’t wait for the day to be over as soon as it had begun. It didn’t matter how much sleep I got (which, still isn’t much). The moment my eyes opened, I already felt drained, like I was starting the day on an empty battery. I rolled out of bed, went through the motions, and counted down the hours until I could crawl back under the covers. But the real breaking point? Crying in the shower because it was the only place I could be alone. Standing under the hot water, I let silent tears fall, wondering if I’d ever feel alive again instead of just... getting through the day.
Burnout in motherhood is real, and it hits hard. I wasn’t just feeling tired—I was feeling like I’d lost myself, again, and like my entire world is about meeting everyone else’s needs while mine slowly disappeared. This might not have been my reality, but it’s how my reality felt. . And the truth is, burnout isn’t new to me. I’ve struggled with it most of my life. I never really learned how to take care of myself, how to slow down, or how to listen to my own needs—until my body forced me to. And when you’re young, it’s hard to give a sh*t about slowing down and checking in with your needs. My early 20s were all gas and hardly any breaks.
I’ve had to unlearn everything I thought I knew about pushing through exhaustion and start understanding the value of rest, boundaries, and real self-care. And now, as a mom, I find myself facing those same struggles all over again.
Motherhood asks everything of you—but that doesn’t mean you have to give all of yourself away. If you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and done, you’re not alone. This post isn’t about adding more to your plate. And it’s certainly not about complaining how hard motherhood can be. It’s about understanding why mom burnout happens, how to recognize the signs, and small, realistic steps to start feeling like you again. Because you deserve more than just survival mode—you deserve to truly live.
What is Mom Burnout? (And Why It’s More Than Just Being Tired)
Mom burnout isn’t just about feeling tired—it’s about feeling empty. It’s the kind of exhaustion that seeps into your bones, making even the smallest tasks feel impossible. It’s waking up just as exhausted as when you went to bed. It’s staring at the pile of laundry and feeling like you might cry because the thought of folding one more shirt is too much. It’s snapping at your kids over something small and then feeling guilty for hours.
Burnout in motherhood happens when the physical, mental, and emotional demands of being a mom outweigh the support, rest, and care we give ourselves. And this looks different for everyone and in different seasons of your life. It’s a slow drain, an accumulation of unmet needs, constant overstimulation, and the invisible workload that never seems to shrink.
So how do you know if you’re just really tired or if you’re actually burnt out? Here are some of the biggest signs of mom burnout:
Irritability & Short Fuse – Everything and everyone gets on your nerves, even things that wouldn’t normally bother you.
Emotional Numbness – You don’t feel like yourself anymore. Instead of feeling joy, love, or even sadness, you just feel... nothing. For me, I call this feeling “low” because nothing really seems to get a rise out of me.
Brain Fog & Forgetfulness – You walk into a room and forget why. You reread the same sentence five times. Your mental to-do list feels overwhelming but impossible to complete. I know it’s time for a little reset when I call my son by my brother’s or one of the cats’ names.
Constant Fatigue – No matter how much rest you get (or don’t get), you feel exhausted all the time. Caffeine doesn’t even make a dent anymore.
Loss of Self-Identity – You’re not sure who you are outside of “Mom.” The things that once made you you feel distant or forgotten.
Resentment & Overwhelm – You love your kids, but some days, you secretly resent how much of yourself you’ve had to sacrifice. I’ve literally flipped my toddler off after a night where he woke up a whopping 8 times.
Mom burnout isn’t a sign that you’re failing. It’s a sign that you’re carrying too much without the support and care you need. And the good news? You don’t have to stay in this cycle. Recognizing burnout is the first step toward reclaiming your energy, your identity, and your joy.
My Breaking Point: When I Realized I Was Burnt Out
Burnout doesn’t hit all at once—it creeps in slowly, so gradually that you don’t always notice it until you’re deep in it. For me, it started with little things. Snapping at my partner over using my water bottle. Feeling completely drained before the day even started. Resenting the constant demands of motherhood, even though I loved my child more than anything. But the moment I knew I had hit my breaking point? It happened on a random Tuesday morning.
I had just woken up after another restless night, already exhausted before my feet even touched the floor. My body ached, my mind felt foggy, and the day ahead felt like an endless checklist of things I had no energy for. My bubba started crying, and instead of feeling that instinctual pull to comfort, I felt... nothing. Just numbness, resentment creeping in. And then, almost immediately, the guilt hit.
I dragged myself through the morning routine—diaper changes, breakfast, cleaning up the mess that never seemed to end. By the time nap time rolled around, I was desperate for a moment to just breathe. But instead of resting, I stood frozen in the middle of the kitchen, staring at the mess, feeling like I was about to break. And then, I did. I locked myself in the bathroom, slid down against the door, and sobbed. I didn’t even know why I was crying—all I knew was that I felt completely depleted, like I had given every last bit of myself and there was nothing left.
That was the moment I realized: This isn’t normal. This isn’t just being tired. This is burnout.
And fortunately, unfortunately, it was something that I was familiar with. After a good cry, i was able to have a moment of clarity. That this might be a “normal” part of motherhood, but it doesn’t have to be my norm. I knew I could recover from this. I knew I had to recover from this.
It was affecting everything—my patience, my ability to be present with my child, my relationship, my mental health. And if I kept going like this, something had to give. If any of this sounds familiar—if you’re running on empty, feeling like you’re just existing rather than living—please know you’re not alone. Mom burnout is real, and it’s not a personal failure. It’s a sign that you need support, rest, and care just as much as anyone else.
And most importantly? You deserve it.
Why Moms Are at High Risk for Burnout
Motherhood is beautiful, but it’s also relentless. Unlike most jobs, there are no breaks, no clocking out, and no paid time off. You are on duty 24/7—physically, mentally, and emotionally. And while the love for our children is undeniable, the weight of everything else can feel impossible to carry.
Here’s why moms are particularly vulnerable to burnout:
1. The Non-Stop Nature of Motherhood
From the moment we wake up (usually not on our own terms) to the moment we collapse into bed, the demands don’t stop. There are diapers to change, meals to make, tantrums to soothe, boo-boos to kiss, and a household to manage. Even when our kids are asleep, we’re still on edge, listening for cries, anticipating the next wake-up, or running through tomorrow’s to-do list. There is no true “off” button, and that level of constant vigilance is exhausting.
2. The Mental Load That No One Sees
Moms don’t just do a lot—we think a lot. The mental load of motherhood is the never-ending, invisible to-do list running in our heads at all times:
When did the baby last eat?
Do we have enough diapers?
What’s for dinner?
Did I RSVP to that birthday party?
Are the kids getting enough outside time?
When was the last time I even drank water?
Even if we have partners who help, we often carry the responsibility of keeping everything running smoothly. The weight of remembering, planning, and anticipating every little thing is exhausting in ways that aren’t always obvious—but they add up fast.
3. The Pressure to Do It All
Society tells moms that we need to be everything to everyone. We should be present and engaged with our kids, keep the house clean, cook healthy meals from scratch, maintain a thriving relationship, contribute financially, and somehow also make time for self-care. The expectation of being a “supermom” is unattainable, yet many of us push ourselves to meet it anyway—until we completely run out of steam.
4. Lack of Support
Even though “it takes a village” is a common phrase, so many moms are doing this alone. Whether it’s because we live far from family, have partners who work long hours, or feel hesitant to ask for help, the result is the same: we shoulder an overwhelming amount on our own. And when there’s no one to lighten the load, burnout feels inevitable.
5. Losing Your Own Identity
Before motherhood, you had hobbies, interests, and things that made you you. But somewhere between diaper changes and late-night feedings, it’s easy to forget who that person was. Many moms wake up one day and realize they don’t recognize themselves anymore. When every part of your day revolves around meeting others’ needs, it’s easy to feel like you no longer have an identity outside of “Mom.” And that loss? It’s exhausting on a whole different level.
Burnout Isn’t Inevitable—But It Is Common
If you’re nodding along to any (or all) of this, you’re not alone. The exhaustion, the overwhelm, the feeling that you have nothing left to give—it’s not just you. Mom burnout is real, and it’s the result of a system that expects us to do everything without enough support. But here’s the good news: recognizing it is the first step to making a change. You deserve support, rest, and a life that doesn’t leave you feeling constantly depleted. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.
A Few Ways to Recover from Mom Burnout (Without Adding More to Your Plate)
Burnout recovery isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing less, in a way that actually supports you. Um, what? Yeah. Read that again. When you’re already overwhelmed, the last thing you need is another unrealistic self-care checklist or advice that makes you feel like you’re failing. Instead, here are six simple, doable shifts that can help you start feeling like yourself again—without adding more to your plate.
1. Admit That You’re Burnt Out
The first step is acknowledging that you’re not just tired—you’re burnt out. And that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’re failing as a mom, it means you’ve been running on empty for too long. Recognizing it allows you to stop pushing through and start making small changes to heal.
Ask yourself:
Am I constantly exhausted, even after resting?
Do I feel emotionally numb or disconnected from my kids?
Have I lost interest in things that used to bring me joy?
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Mom burnout is real, and admitting it is the first step to recovery.
2. Stop Trying to Do It All
The “supermom” myth is a lie. You don’t have to do everything by yourself, and letting go of that expectation is one of the most freeing things you can do. Try reframing what “supermom” means to you. Instead of a badass motha who does everything for everyone on her own, maybe supermom means a badass motha who does her best to care for her family and herself. Maybe supermom is someone who knows how to say “no” and models how to set healthy boundaries.
Delegate – Your partner, kids (if they’re old enough), family, and even friends can help lighten the load. You don’t have to carry it all alone.
Ask for Help – Whether it’s hiring a babysitter for an hour or trading playdates with a fellow mom, support makes a difference.
Let Things Go – Some things can wait. The laundry will still be there tomorrow. Your well-being matters more than a spotless house.
3. Find Micro-Moments of Rest
When you’re deep in burnout, the idea of “self-care” can feel laughable. Who has time for bubble baths and spa days? But self-care doesn’t have to be an event—it can be a series of tiny, intentional moments throughout your day.
Try this:
Take three deep breaths before responding to your child’s next request.
Sit in your car for an extra minute before walking inside. Extra points if you blast your favorite song.
Drink your coffee hot (or at least try to get a few intentional, slow sips of it while it’s hot).
Listen to a song you love while making dinner. Or the whole album or a favorite playlist.
Small moments of rest add up. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s presence.
4. Set Boundaries (And Actually Stick to Them!)
Moms are expected to be available all the time—but that doesn’t mean you have to say “yes” to everything. Setting boundaries isn’t selfish; it’s necessary for your mental health.
Say No Without Guilt – You don’t have to attend every event, volunteer for every school activity, say yes to every playdate or sleepover, or take on more than you can handle.
Create Space for Yourself – Whether it’s a 10-minute break alone or an hour every week, your needs matter too.
Communicate Your Needs – Let your partner, family, or support system know when you need help or time to recharge.
5. Prioritize Sleep (Even if It Feels Impossible)
When you’re running on fumes, sleep is one of the most powerful ways to recover. But if “get more sleep” feels like an impossible goal, focus on quality over quantity.
Power Down Before Bed – Avoid screens at least 30 minutes before sleeping to improve restfulness.
Nap When You Can – Even 10-15 minutes of rest can make a difference. My mom calls these “fat boy naps” and I have no idea where the expression comes from but it makes me smile.
Ask for Help at Night – If possible, take turns with your partner and consider your bedtime routine, if any. If you don’t have one, consider it. A proper bedtime routine is essential an part of having good sleep hygiene for children and adults. And if yours sucks, you can work on building one as a family. Which is what we had to do.
Better sleep = a better you. And you deserve to feel rested.
6. Reconnect with Yourself
You are more than just "Mom." Yes, motherhood is a huge part of your identity, but it’s not all of you.
What did you love before becoming a parent?
When was the last time you did something just for yourself?
What small thing can you do this week that’s just for you?
Even if it’s just listening to a favorite podcast, journaling for five minutes, drawing, dancing, making a favorite recipe, screaming into the void, (jk—kinda), or going for a short walk alone—find a way to reconnect with you.
How to Prevent Mom Burnout Before It Happens Again
Burnout recovery isn’t about a one-time fix—it’s about creating sustainable habits that support your well-being. Here’s how to make that happen:
✔ Build a Realistic Self-Care Routine – Find small, consistent ways to take care of yourself (even on the busiest days). For me, brushing my teeth has turned into a 10-minute or so self-care routine after I give my kiddo a bath. I shut the door, let my partner deal with jammies, and take a little extra care of my teeth and face.
✔ Lean on Your Community – You don’t have to do this alone. Whether it’s friends, family, or an online support group, connection matters. Some days, I leave my son in the daycare at the gym a little extra longer after I’ve finished my workout, and I just sit in the lobby and sip my water while I journal or stare off into space.
✔ Let Go of Perfection – A happy, healthy mom is more important than a perfectly clean house or a packed schedule. Unless you’re in some sort of hoarding situation, or the house is literally dirty, filthy, your kids are NOT going to remember how tidy your house was, but they are going to remember throwing the couch cushions on the floor and hopping from one to another while pretending the floor is lava.
Final Thoughts: You Are More Than Just “Mom”
If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and running on empty, please know this: You are not failing. You are human. And humans need rest, care, and support—just like anyone else.
You cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish; it’s essential. And it models healthy behaviors to your kiddos. And the best part? You don’t have to do it all at once.
So, let’s start small. What’s one tiny thing you can do today to care for yourself? Even if it’s just taking a deep breath, drinking a full glass of water, or stepping outside for a moment of fresh air—it counts. Because you count. And you deserve to feel whole again.
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