Are you feeling like a stretched-thin, overwhelmed mom? You’re not alone. These survival tips are just what you need to manage the chaos of life, giving you back more time in your day and creating more beautiful moments along the way.
When I became a new mom, I thought it was going to be easy. I mean, how hard could it be?
It seemed like all my friends had it together and were managing everything just fine.
But then reality hit and things got really tough!
Being a working mom is hard, especially when you’re trying your best but still feel like you can never quite get ahead of the chaos that comes with parenting and work responsibilities.
Of course, it surely doesn’t help either when the mom guilt creeps in because social media has you feeling like everyone is a perfect mom except you.
Then, I was diagnosed with ADHD which was actually good news because it explained so much about why everything in my life felt like such a struggle despite my best efforts!
It felt like such an epiphany in some ways; after many many years, finally, here was something that could help make sense of who I am.
But at the same time, knowing this left me feeling even more overwhelmed since having ADHD means I’m even more prone to getting overstimulated and overwhelmed easily by too many tasks or responsibilities at once.
I knew I had to find ways to get more done with less stress or my mental health was going to go completely down the drain.
As tempting as it has sometimes been to just give up, instead I chose to take control of my situation by finding creative ways to manage my stress levels while still remaining productive enough to have a functioning household.
And guess what? It totally worked!
Truth is, I know I’m not alone.
Many moms are struggling to keep up with the demands of being a parent while taking care of their own needs as well.
It can be hard to find the balance between “me time” and family time – especially when you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day for everything that needs to get done!
That’s why I’m here to share the best tips, tricks, and strategies that helped turn things around dramatically for me.
It is my hope that some of these ideas will work as well for you as they have for me and give you back some much-needed relaxation, so you can go from feeling frazzled and exhausted all the time, to enjoying more downtime with your loved ones.
This post is all about tips from one fellow overwhelmed mom to another.
Why you’re overwhelmed
If you’re feeling deep in the center of mom overwhelm, you’re not alone.
Being a mom is one of the most rewarding jobs out there, but as we’re all aware, it can also be incredibly overwhelming.
Balancing the needs of our children, our partner, our home, and our own needs can feel like an impossible juggling act.
And, unfortunately, it’s usually that last one, “our own needs”, that gets completely ignored.
Add to that the pressure to be a “perfect” parent, keep up with social media, and maintain relationships with friends and family, and it’s no wonder that moms are feeling overwhelmed.
As moms, we also tend to carry an uneven share of the mental load in the family such as scheduling appointments, signing kids up for activities, and researching parenting strategies.
It’s exhausting!
And that’s why it’s important to remember that it’s okay to ask for help, to take some time for yourself, and to embrace imperfection.
You’re doing the best you can, and that’s what matters most!
Signs you’re an overwhelmed mom
There are moments when the juggling feels like way too much, and you’re left wondering whether there’s a way to make life easier.
We all have times when we feel a little overwhelmed, but how do you know if it’s become a chronic problem?
Here are some signs you may recognize when you’re well on your way to mom burnout.
- Feeling exhausted all the time
- Having a short fuse and getting easily frustrated
- Struggling to keep up with tasks
- Having low self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment
- Ignoring your own needs in order to take care of others first
- Feeling guilty about not being able to do everything
- Taking on more responsibilities than you can handle
The strategies I used to overcome overwhelm
When I was younger, I thought I had it all figured out.
My days were filled with organization and structure; I had everything at least sort of under control.
But then life happened – a new job, marriage, kids – and suddenly the loads of laundry never seemed to end.
All of the strategies I had in place to cope with my ADHD (undiagnosed at the time) and actually get things done were no longer working anymore.
The load had simply become too much and I was officially an overwhelmed mom.
I felt like the entire family was relying on me to know what needed to be done at any given moment and I could feel my stress levels rising with every task that piled up on my plate.
Before long, I was on the brink of full-on mental breakdown mode.
That’s when it hit me: if I wanted things to slow down and take some pressure off myself without sacrificing time spent with my loved ones or other important tasks in life, then something had to change.
So instead of trying to do it all alone (which only caused more stress!), this post has some real-life strategies that really helped me lighten the load.
Sure I still feel the overwhelm from time to time (we all do!) but these strategies have been invaluable in helping keep my mind clear (or at least slightly less frazzled) during this busy period in life – maybe they can help you too!
17 Ideas for the Overwhelmed Mom to Lighten the Load
1) Give yourself a break
As a mom, feeling overwhelmed is a completely understandable emotion.
You have a lot on your plate, and it’s not always easy to manage everything at once.
It feels hard because it is hard!
The first step to addressing this feeling is to be kind to yourself and recognize that you may need some help.
There’s no shame in admitting that, and it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
It’s just a busy phase of life, and sometimes we all need a breather.
Let go of those feelings of shame and guilt – they’re not serving you, and you don’t need them weighing you down.
Trust me, I know, because I used to be the queen of shame and guilt, and still struggle a bit with it today.
Instead, focusing on positive self-talk and finding ways to give yourself a break whenever possible will be a huge help.
2) Do your grocery shopping online
Being a mom is hard work and can sometimes make you feel like you’re drowning in responsibilities.
But there are small changes you can make that can have a big impact on your stress levels, like doing your grocery shopping online.
Not only does shopping from home save you time, but it can also save you money by limiting those pesky impulse buys.
Plus, let’s be real, sitting in a parking spot and waiting for someone to bring your groceries to you beats hauling your kids through the aisles of the grocery store any day.
We typically order groceries online from Walmart as it’s convenient and they have great prices, but most grocery stores typically offer some sort of online pickup option.
3) Order meal kits for delivery
I don’t know about you, but there are only so many times I can eat chicken nuggets and mac and cheese before I start to lose my mind.
And let’s be real, meal planning is a chore that always seems to get pushed to the bottom of our to-do lists.
I’m an extremely picky eater and so is my kid so, when it comes to figuring out what to eat for dinner every night, decision fatigue is usually what’s on the menu.
And if you’re like me, the decision usually ends up being the same old chicken nuggets and mac and cheese every single night.
That’s why I’ve started getting my dinners delivered, and it’s been a game changer.
We have tried just about every single type of meal kit from cheap ones to expensive ones, but Home Chef is by far our favorite.
We love how well-packaged all of the ingredients are, the large number of recipe selections including several express and oven-ready options which take little time to make and have minimal prep, and we’ve never had any issues with delivery.
The recipes are also really intuitive and easy to follow which hasn’t been the case with all of the services we’ve tried.
Check back because I’m hoping to post a full review of all the meal kit services we have tried soon.
Even if I only get meals for a couple of days, it’s enough to help me get back on track, actually, eat some vegetables and eliminate some of that daily stress.
4) Shorten your daily to-do list
This is a tip I actually got from my therapist and it has helped immensely.
How many times have you looked at your to-do list of what feels like 5000 items and then done none of them?
If you’re like me, that’s the case almost every single day.
Now, instead of trying to do everything on my to-do list, all at once, because that’s impossible, I will pick one or maybe two of the most important things and make that my goal for the day.
Getting a little bit done off the list is better than getting nothing done off the list because it’s too big and overwhelming.
You can still keep a running to-do list of things but lessen the pressure of needing to get it all done and work on it in sizable chunks.
Choose the most important thing for that day (I know it’s hard!) and that’s your goal!
And, once you get started, you may just find it’s easier to keep going on some more tasks but never feel bad if that one or two you set is all you get done.
To help with this, I’ve been using this Honest Mom journal from Amazon. It takes less than 5 minutes to fill out at the start and end of each day and really helps me to focus on what’s most important.
5) Keep a physical planner
Can we just take a minute to talk about all the things we have to keep track of?
Birthday parties, appointments, school activities, grocery lists, bills, household maintenance, and the list goes on!
It’s no wonder it’s overwhelming sometimes.
An actual physical planner or family command center can help a ton with this.
I know, I know, everybody keeps everything on their phones these days, but hear me out!
With a physical planner, you can write everything down in one place and easily keep track of it all.
Plus, it can also be easily read by your family so they can take on some of the tasks and get you some extra help around the house.
My favorite planner is the Home Planner from Passionate Penny Pincher because it already has a bunch of suggested home maintenance tasks built into the planner which means I don’t have to think as much about it.
If you still prefer to keep a digital planner, looking into a smart calendar like the ones from Skylight or Hearth Display (heads up there’s a huge wait list for this one) can be a big help as it’s still something everyone can still see and contribute to.
I would LOVE to get my hands on one of those Hearth Display ones someday.
The bottom line, it just needs to be something you can easily refer to often and share the load with other family members.
[RELATED: The Best Planners For Stay At Home Moms To Get Organized]
6) Subscribe to a diaper delivery service
As a new and probably tired mom, you already have a million things on your mind.
Making sure you always have enough diapers and wipes on hand is one of those things you can easily take off your plate.
We used the Honest Company diaper subscription as that was our diaper brand of choice, but I know Hello Bello also offers one or you could even set something up through Amazon with their subscribe & save option.
With a subscription, your diapers will be delivered right to your doorstep which means no more running out at the most inconvenient times, and you’ll have one less thing to think about which means more brain space for all those adorable baby snuggles.
[RELATED: Moms Tell All – The Best Baby Advice They Received as First-Time Parents]
7) Have your pet supplies delivered right to your door
Having a furry friend is undoubtedly one of the best things in life, but we all know it can be hard to keep up with their needs sometimes.
This becomes infinitely more difficult when you have kids’ needs to keep track of too.
Thankfully, companies like Chewy have made it easier than ever before to get everything your pets need without setting a single foot outside the door.
From food and litter to toys and health supplies, they’ve got it all covered.
We just set ours on autoship and never even have to think about it.
Before using Chewy, I was constantly forgetting to pick up cat food or litter and was forced to run out late at night. No fun!
They’re even equipped to handle our cat’s prescription food as well which is awesome as it saves us time and money as opposed to getting it directly from the vet’s office.
8) Embrace minimalism and declutter
Minimalism allows you to focus on the essentials, eliminate anything that doesn’t bring you joy, and prioritize activities that are important to you and your family.
It may seem impossible with kids, but it’s totally doable.
And, by decluttering your home, you will reduce the amount of time spent cleaning and organizing, which frees up more time for self-care or spending quality time with family.
You know that feeling when you walk into a clean room and you just feel at ease? That’s what we’re going for here.
One of my favorite ways we’ve decluttered is by getting rid of dozens of different cleaning supplies and switching to Force of Nature cleaner which is not only healthier for our family but also takes up so much less space under our sink.
If you’re interested in learning more about Force of Nature, check out our full review here.
[RELATED: Simple Minimalist Playroom Ideas To Declutter Your Kids Spaces]
9) Let your kids help with household chores
As a busy stay-at-home or working mom, it can feel like there are never enough hours in the day to get everything done.
Between work, picking up the kids, making dinner, and spending quality time with them, it can be easy to let household chores fall by the wayside.
That’s why involving your kids in your to-do list can be a game-changer.
Not only will you get some extra hands to help with the tasks, but you’ll also get to spend some quality time with your little ones.
Sure, it might take a bit longer than if you did it alone, and it might not get done exactly the way you want it, but when you have young kids, now is the time to drop the perfectionism.
It won’t be perfect, but more will be done than if you did nothing at all.
So go ahead, make a game out of folding the laundry, or have your little ones help you sweep the floors.
Not only will it be more fun, but it will also teach them valuable life skills.
10) Have a yes space for your kids
Parenting can feel like you’re constantly being pulled in every direction.
There’s always something that needs to be done, and someone always needs your attention.
One way that has helped me combat this constant state of stress was by creating a “yes space” for our child.
A yes space is a designated area in your home where your child can move, explore, and be curious without limits.
This works great, especially for toddlers and babies, but it has its benefits for all ages.
By giving your child this freedom, you’re able to allow them to be creative and independent in a safe space, while also giving yourself a break from constantly saying “no” and feeling like a referee.
Not only does this create a more peaceful environment for everyone, but it also helps your child develop a sense of autonomy and confidence.
11) Find a great therapist
When I first started seeing my therapist for postpartum depression and anxiety, I was feeling so overwhelmed and exhausted.
As a first-time mom with endless responsibilities even beyond the role of “mom”, it felt like life was spinning out of control and I had no idea how to manage the stress.
My therapist gave me the tools I needed to help me cope with my day-to-day struggles.
She showed me how to take breaks when things got too overwhelming, how to set healthy boundaries for myself and my family, and even strategies for dealing with difficult conversations with coworkers and loved ones.
She also taught me about self-care practices such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, journaling, and time management techniques that have really made a difference in my ability to handle stressful situations better.
I’m grateful for the skills that she has given me because they have enabled me to be a better mother and wife.
My family is stronger now than ever before because we can all rely on each other knowing that we have the skills needed to deal with challenging times together without getting overwhelmed or stressed out by them.
Seeking professional help has truly been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I still see my therapist over 4 years later.
Some people worry about the stigma of therapy, but working with a therapist does not make you weak.
In fact, it shows incredible strength that you’re able to recognize things you need help with and to seek that help.
12) Talk to yourself like you would talk to a friend
Through therapy, I learned an invaluable skill: talk to yourself like you would talk to a friend.
It’s not always easy because we all tend to be our own harshest critics, but after some practice, you may start noticing how much better you feel about yourself and how much more confident you are.
Instead of constantly beating yourself up over small mistakes and missteps, begin talking kindly to yourself. How would you talk to your child? Be a parent to yourself.
Remind yourself that there is no such thing as perfection when it comes to parenting and that each day brings new opportunities for growth and learning – both yours and your children’s!
The words of encouragement from yourself can make all the difference in helping you realize what an amazing job you’re doing as a parent!
13) Stretch on a daily basis
You may not realize it, but taking just a few minutes each day to stretch can have a big impact on your mental health.
It doesn’t have to be a complicated routine, just a few simple stretches to get your blood flowing and muscles loosened can work wonders.
I recently started doing a 5-10 minute stretching video each day and it has been a nice little break in my day to take even the smallest amount of time for myself.
It also helps to reduce physical tension, ease anxiety and reduce stress levels.
Yes! Every little bit helps!
14) When all else fails, go outside
There’s just something about breathing in the fresh air, taking in the beautiful scenery, and feeling the sun on your skin that makes everything seem a little bit brighter.
Whether it’s going for a hike, taking a stroll through your local park, or simply sitting outside and soaking up some vitamin D, there are plenty of opportunities to get outside and improve your mood.
And, on the plus side, the outdoors usually tends to improve our kids’ moods too.
15) Set boundaries and stick to them
Setting boundaries can be tough, but it’s necessary for our own well-being.
Whether it’s with our kids, friends, or family members, it’s important to know what we’re comfortable with and communicate it.
Of course, sticking to those boundaries is a whole other challenge.
But remember, it’s not selfish to protect our own mental and emotional health.
Boundaries also teach others how they should treat us, and that ultimately benefits everyone involved, including setting a healthy example for your kids.
So have that tough conversation, say no when you need to, and don’t apologize for taking care of yourself.
16) Find self-care strategies that work for you
As an overwhelmed mom, you might feel like you don’t even have time to think about self-care, but taking care of yourself is crucial to being a good parent.
The key is finding self-care strategies that work for you.
Maybe you start your day with five minutes of stretching, meditation, or yoga, or you take a walk or a hot bath after the kids are in bed.
It could be as simple as enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning or going out for lunch with a friend.
The important thing is to figure out what helps you feel more relaxed and centered.
Remember, self-care isn’t selfish – it’s necessary.
So make sure you prioritize it and find strategies that work for you.
You’ve got this!
17) Just buy that Robot Vacuum
Oh, let me tell you about the incredible transformation a Robot Vacuum has brought into my life!
If you’ve been wrestling with the decision to invest in one of these (like I did for years, literally years), I’m telling you to just do it.
We purchased the Eufy G30 recently and after using it for a few weeks, I wish we would have done this sooner.
For our pet-friendly, kid-friendly home, it has been one of the best things I’ve ever done for my mental health.
This little robot vacuum has been an absolute game-changer in alleviating the stress that comes with keeping the house clean on a daily basis and has made it feel almost effortless to maintain a clean home.
While I still need to do a deep clean with our larger vacuum every couple of weeks, this is much less frequent, and in between vacuuming, my floors remain spotless.
The model we purchased is pretty basic.
I do wish we could set “no-go zones” virtually from the app instead of manually blocking areas with pillows, but that’s a pretty minor inconvenience and the models that allowed for that were outside of our price range at the time.
Trust me, this one is a purchase that you won’t regret.
We certainly don’t!