Parent burnout-what exactly is that? Well, just like teacher burnout, it is where you get to the point in your life where you aren’t sure if you can handle another year. In all seriousness, parent burnout is real and can be really hard to eliminate. Becoming a parent is definitely not for the faint of heart, but parent burnout can put a giant damper on a usually joyful experience.
So, how exactly do we fight this problem? How do we know if we are suffering from parent burnout? Is there a cure? What causes parent burnout? And so on.
Let’s start with the definition first. I’m a sucker for definitions. Parent burnout is when the daily stresses turn into intense exhaustion that leads parents to feel detached from their children and unsure of their parenting abilities. Have you felt like this?
I know I’ve had times where I have been unsure about my parenting abilities and generally worrying about messing my kids up. Parent burnout hasn’t been on my radar as I feel I am still new to this journey. But, I know I can’t speak for everyone and the goal of this podcast is to be as all inclusive as humanly possible. Today, we are gonna talk about some ways to help get you out of parent burnout to live the best life you were destined to.
Parent Burnout Tip #1: Protected Self-Care Time
Everyone knows we ALL need self care time. I feel like I preach about self care until I’m blue in the face. But, we all could use a reminder. Self-care is vital when working through parent burnout because during parenthood we all tend to forget about ourselves. Also, when we decide to take some time for ourselves we worry about what everyone will think. Let me tell you something, do you think the people that you are worried about care? I can tell you that they don’t. No one has that much time in the day to worry about everyone else. So, go and take care of yourself because who else will.
But, what do I mean by protected self-care time? That means that you find ways to take care of yourself every day. Now, that will be hard to do at first, trust me I know, but just start with one day of self-care a week. Than, work your way up to more and more days.
Self-care also does not have to be elaborate. It can be as simple as taking a bath, reading a good book, finding a quiet place to meditate, or any other activity that brings you peace and joy.
Parent Burnout Tip #2: Regular Exercise
It has been proven that regular exercise helps support mental and physical health. So, when dealing with parent burnout, exercise is an important aspect. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, just 15-30 minutes a day of any type of exercise you enjoy.
My favorite when I am feeling stressed is to take a walk to clear my head and recenter myself. So I urge you if you are feeling the effects of parent burnout, take some time to work on yourself in the form of exercise.
Parent Burnout Tip #3: Avoid Comparing Yourself to Other Parents
Now this tip is for any parent out there. We have to get better at being our own best versions of ourselves. I even fall guilty of this trap from time to time and I can’t imagine having parent burnout and going through this too.
It is a daily struggle to not compare yourself to others. But, honestly the grass isn’t always greener somewhere else. So what may look rosy to you, probably has thorns as well.
The most important thing that we, as parents, need to remember is that when we start to feel the feeling of unworthiness we need to stop thinking that way. If that means putting your phone on silent and hiding it from yourself then do that. Then, get outside, exercise, watch a movie, paint a picture, whatever makes you happy.
Tip #4: Be Kind to Yourself
Parent burnout is a real struggle and should not be taken lightly. But, again this advice can go for every parent out there. Be kind to yourself, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be the quote on quote perfect parent. If there is one thing I’ve realized over these last few years of being a parent, it is that there is no such thing as a perfect parent.
We all make mistakes. But, one thing rings true: we are always trying to do our best. There is no need to add additional stress to the world of parenting. Be kind to yourself and others because we are all in this together.
Need Additional Help?
If you need additional help with parent burnout, please seek out professional help. This episode is in no way a replacement or solution to a very real and deep problem. Take care of yourself and do what is right for you.
I hope you found some tips you can take away from this episode that will allow you to have a happy parenthood journey. If you found a takeaway, share it with your friends and family. Peace, love, and self-worth friend!
Are you looking for a free top secret parent guide to kindergarten success? Click on the link in the show notes to get it sent directly to your inbox.
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