The 3 Myths About Mom Burnout

About 9.8 million working mothers in the U.S. experience burnout, according to the latest analysis from Great Place to Work and Maven companies. 

Burnout is characterized as a state of complete physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. It is not only a catchword that you see on social media. The World Health Organization officially recognized burnout as a syndrome that was added to the International Classification of Diseases. According to the WHO, it is a condition of chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. 

However, burnout can happen to anybody. If you are a mom, you probably know burnout very well.

The pandemic made things worse for working mothers. Juggling work from home, online learning, and lack of child care put a lot of pressure on women. Lack of support from society and family forced many women to leave the workforce to care for their kids. 

Despite the burnout epidemic, there are many misconceptions about this condition. Here are the most common ones I see.

Myth #1 You can push through burnout.

As a mom, you are used to going and going even when you don’t feel well. You tell yourself that your family depends on you, so you can’t stop. You’ve always pushed through stressful days, body aches, and even colds. 

So when you experience sudden extreme fatigue, cry without any reason, or dread going to work, you tell yourself that you just need to push through it. 

But burnout is much more than being stressed, a little tired, or moody. It is a serious condition that may lead to complete disengagement and depression. 

Some people think that taking a break or more extended vacation will help them feel normal again. It may work at first, but symptoms are usually back after a couple of weeks of stress. 

Burnout recovery is a process that takes time. You didn’t get to this point overnight. Therefore, it will take time for you to feel better. 

What should you do? 

Rebuilding your health foundations by focusing on the whole mind-body-spirit approach is essential to get your health back. It is not only about eating healthy and exercising but also reconnecting with yourself, working on your stress perception, deepening your spiritual practice, incorporating mindfulness, and connecting with people that make you happy. 

To give you an idea of where to start, download my free eBook, The Burnout Rescue Guide For Exhausted Moms. The guide will provide you with the steps you can follow to begin the recovery process. 

Myth #2 Self-care is not enough to avoid burnout.

I see over and over again that women disregard the power of self-care. The idea seems too simple to work. What can a 10 minutes walk do for a tired mom that is stressed to the max and stretched thin with too many responsibilities? 

Many people think they need to make massive changes to their lives to see results. The problem is that those big changes are usually challenging to implement. That’s why I am a big proponent of small, easy to accomplish lifestyle adjustments. One healthy habit done consistently can significantly impact your health than occasional massage or vacation. 

It also comes down to the definition of self-care. It is much more than a bubble bath, a glass of wine in the evening to relax, or a nice massage. Self-care is about taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. It should be done every day, not occasionally when we have time for it. It should be naturally built into our day without feeling like another item on our to-do list. 

If you use self-care as a way to recharge, build resilience, manage stress, connect with others and yourself, you will be equipped enough to prevent burnout. You will know what to do when life gets busy and stressful. You will have tools to help you manage these situations. 

What simple self-care activities can you incorporate into your day right now?  

Myth #3 Burnout means that you failed.

Some of the signs of burnout are lack of motivation, increased pessimism, and disengagement. It is easy to feel like you failed yourself and other people when you are in that state. 

Burnout can happen to anybody. It usually shows up because of prolonged stress and taking on too many responsibilities without paying attention to our physical and mental limits. 

It doesn’t mean that you failed. Burnout usually happens because of your dedication to your job, your family, and other people in your life. 

Our bodies are not build to be in a state of stress for an extended period. Our natural state is the resting state. Constant stress depletes our bodies. Our go-go lifestyle creates imbalances. Eventually, the body gives up, and we can’t push any further.   

To Sum Up

Burnout is a serious condition that shouldn’t be ignored. It is something that you can’t push through. It can lead to depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia, and other chronic conditions if not addressed. 

Hi! I'm Kinga Zerhouni.

I am a functional health coach. I work with stressed-out and tired working moms who feel like they are drowning in the thousand things they have to do between work and home.

I help them learn how to nourish and listen to their bodies to figure out which lifestyle changes are right for them, so they can regain their energy and feel calm again.