Do you ever feel exhausted?
If you’re like many working moms, you may feel that being overwhelmed is just an inevitable reality of life.
But, do you want to know a secret?! It doesn’t have to be!
It may seem impossible. After all, you’ve got little human beings to look after, a house to keep clean and cozy, and maybe even several work projects to focus on; and it all seems to need your attention right now!
To help you prevent mom burnout and reduce overwhelm, try these seven quick mindfulness tips to help:
1. You don’t have to do it ALL!
Your peace of mind comes first. When you give yourself permission to not have to take care of everything, it’ll be easier for you to determine what is the MOST important in any given moment. Prioritize by making a list of the things on your mind and sorting it out by what’s Urgent, what’s Important (but not Urgent), and what’s Not Important.
2. Give yourself compassion.
The reason you’re wanting to do so much for everyone? It’s because you’re a loving and compassionate human being! But you can’t give from an empty well! Recognize that when you give yourself compassion and acknowledgment for how much you’re already doing, you’ll be in a better mental and physical position to take care of things for others too.
3. List 5 mom wins daily.
Every day, you probably do SOO much more than you realize! But in our society, some of the things you do aren’t seen as “productive” things you’d normally check off your list or be recognized for. Let’s change that! Start creating a list of at least 5 things you did to keep yourself, your little one, or your family happy today – no matter how “small” they may feel.
4. Break goals and projects into tiny bites.
When you think of all the steps needed to achieve a goal or a project, it’s hard NOT to feel overwhelmed. So, to prevent this, take those intimidating goals or projects you’ve been putting off and break them down into as many tiny steps as possible. Then consider how long each step will take and schedule it out on your calendar in advance, so you don’t feel the pressure to do everything today, this week, or even this month – especially for those bigger goals.
5. Delegate or outsource what you can.
Ask for help. This can seem obvious, but it can be hard to do if you’re used to doing everything by yourself. Ask your partner, older kids, family, or friends to help take some of the load off your plate. Give them enough advance notice so they can put helping you into their schedule, so they don’t feel overwhelmed, either.
6. Automate and batch similar tasks.
There are probably a lot of things you do consistently every day or every week. Consider how you might be able to batch similar tasks (such as food prep-related tasks or cleaning-related tasks), so you can efficiently make the most of the time you have to work on them. Even better, is there a way to automate some things through the use of technology or software?
7. Watch your mind…and then change it.
What is one of the biggest causes of feeling overwhelmed? It’s listening to the thought that you “have to do everything right now.” But that itself is just a thought. With practice, you can observe thoughts like this and choose to respond from a greater space of calm, ease, and intentionality. This is the heart of practicing mindfulness…understanding that you don’t have to react to every thought that’s screaming for attention.
Last but not least, when you DO find yourself feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, realize that even that is ok. Give yourself compassion for feeling this way. Recognize that the time, labor, and love you’re putting in every day makes a HUGE difference – even if others don’t tell you this.
Interested in learning more?
Click here to explore how Happy Humans Mindfulness can help busy moms & women!