Mum Burnout is Real: How to Recognise It & Recover
Motherhood is a beautiful, fulfilling journey, but let’s be honest—it’s also exhausting. Between the never-ending to-do lists, sleepless nights, and emotional demands, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. If you’ve ever found yourself running on empty, snapping at your kids, or feeling like you just can’t do this anymore – you might be experiencing mum burnout.
Burnout isn’t just about being tired. It’s deep, chronic exhaustion that affects your body, mind, and emotions. The good news? You can recover from it and prevent it from taking over your life. Let’s dive into what mum burnout really looks like and, more importantly, how you can recharge and reclaim your energy.
What is Mum Burnout?
Mum burnout is chronic physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, high expectations, and a lack of self-care. Unlike everyday tiredness, burnout leaves you feeling completely depleted, detached, and often resentful of your responsibilities.
It happens when you give and give—without ever taking time to refill your own cup.
Signs You Might Be Experiencing Mum Burnout
If you’re wondering whether you’re dealing with burnout or just the usual exhaustion of motherhood, here are some red flags:
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Constant Fatigue – No matter how much sleep you get, you still feel drained.
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Irritability & Short Temper – You find yourself snapping at your kids or partner over small things.
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Emotional Detachment – You feel numb, disconnected, or like you’re going through the motions.
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Overwhelm & Anxiety – Even small tasks feel like too much to handle.
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Feeling Unappreciated – You start resenting the fact that no one seems to notice all that you do.
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Loss of Joy – Activities that once made you happy no longer bring you pleasure.
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Physical Symptoms – Headaches, muscle tension, stomach issues, or frequent illnesses due to stress.
If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to take burnout seriously. Ignoring it won’t make it go away—it’ll only make things worse.
How to Recover from Mum Burnout
The first step to healing from burnout is acknowledging that you deserve rest and care too. Here’s how to start your recovery:
1. Give Yourself Permission to Rest
Burnout happens when we push through exhaustion instead of listening to our bodies. It’s okay to pause. You don’t have to do everything right now.
Action Step: Give yourself permission to rest without guilt. Even if it’s just 10 minutes of sitting quietly with a cup of tea, start somewhere.2. Stop Trying to Be Supermum
Society places enormous pressure on mums to “do it all,” but perfection is impossible. The house doesn’t have to be spotless. Your kids don’t need gourmet meals every night. Let go of the pressure to be everything to everyone.
Action Step: Choose one thing to let go of this week—whether it’s an unnecessary chore, a commitment, or an unrealistic expectation.3. Ask for Help (and Accept It!)
You are not meant to do this alone. Whether it’s your partner, family, or friends, ask for help when you need it. If someone offers to watch the kids or cook a meal—say yes!
Action Step: Reach out to one person today and ask for support with something small.4. Prioritise Yourself—Even in Small Ways
Self-care isn’t about spa days (although that would be nice!). It’s about doing small things every day that make you feel human again.
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Take a shower in peace.
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Read a chapter of a book.
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Go for a 10-minute walk.
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Eat a meal while actually sitting down.
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Drink your coffee while it’s still hot!
Action Step: Write down one self-care activity you can do today—and do it.5. Set Boundaries & Learn to Say No
If you’re constantly overcommitting and feeling drained, it’s time to set boundaries. You do not have to attend every event, volunteer for every school function, or say yes to every favour.
Action Step: Practice saying no to something that doesn’t serve you. Protect your energy.6. Reconnect with Yourself
Motherhood can make you feel like you’ve lost you. Take time to reconnect with who you are outside of being a mum. What did you love before kids? What lights you up?
Action Step: Spend 30 minutes this week doing something just for you—whether it’s journaling, painting, exercising, or watching your favourite show.7. Seek Professional Help
If you’re feeling persistently overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, reach out!
Working with a Coach, or Therapist will fast track you to feeling more energised – mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.
Burnout can take a serious toll on your overall health, and seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
It’s always a good idea to check in with Naturopath, or Integrative GP who can test all your levels. Our bodies need the right fuel to feel energised and when we’re out of balance internally, this can have a serious impact on our mental and emotional health. (Over 90% of your serotonin is manufactured in your gut, so whatever action you take, note that a holistic approach will always be the most powerful step to an energised life!)
Action Step: If burnout feels unmanageable, consider talking to a professional who can guide you toward healing.You Deserve to Feel Good Again
Mum burnout is real, but it’s not a life sentence. You are not failing—you’re just human. And just like you care for your kids, you deserve that same love and care.
So today, I encourage you to take one small step toward recharging your energy and reclaiming your joy. Because when you take care of yourself, you’re not just doing it for you—you’re doing it for your family too.
