Maternal Burnout Is Real (And You’re Not Weak for Feeling It)
We throw the word burnout around a lot, but maternal burnout is more than just feeling tired. It’s chronic emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion from the unrelenting demands of caregiving—and it’s finally being recognized for what it is.
The World Health Organization (WHO) now includes burnout in its classification of diseases, originally describing it as the result of “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” Research now shows that parenting—especially mothering—can produce the same effects.
And I’ve lived through it more than once.
The Breaking Point
One of the lowest moments came after my third baby was born. My husband’s job was in its busy season, my newborn wouldn’t sleep, and my older kids (then 3 and 6) still needed me around the clock.
I wasn’t eating well. I wasn’t resting. I felt invisible and bone-deep exhausted.
On the night of July 9, 2018, I told my husband I didn’t want to be alive anymore.
He went sheet white. And I could see in his face that something had to change—not just for me, but for all of us.
The next night, I opened the Notes app on my phone and made a list.
I titled it:
JOY CREATORS
- yoga flow
- 10 min meditation
- hugs
- mani-pedi
- walk
That list wasn’t curated or pretty. It was raw, and real, and quite honestly made up of the only things that came to mind in that moment. While, I’ve since thought of dozens of other things that make me happy, I’ve never edited it. That list is time-stamped to the moment I decided to fight for my life in the simplest way I could.
Burnout Wasn’t New—And It Wouldn’t Be the Last Time
That moment was extreme, but it wasn’t isolated. The truth is, I’d felt glimmers of burnout before that—especially during major life transitions.
And unfortunately, 2018 wouldn’t be the last time either.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, it returned in a different form: virtual school, no childcare, no break, no breath. The rage and the numbness came back. So did the guilt.
These days, though? I see it coming sooner. And I know how to respond.
The Support That Changed Everything
Not long after that breaking point, I started working with a coach. I didn’t even know what I needed—just that I was drowning.
Our sessions gave me space to feel human again. She helped me realize I wasn’t selfish for having needs. That my exhaustion wasn’t weakness. That I was allowed to take up space in my own life.
That experience changed everything.
It was such a profound turning point for me that it eventually inspired me to become a coach myself. Today, I get to support women who feel lost, stuck, or overwhelmed—because I know exactly what it’s like to be there. And I know how powerful it is to be truly seen.
How I Manage Burnout Now (Before It Manages Me)
I don’t pretend I have it all figured out. But I’ve learned how to recognize burnout before it flattens me. Here are the tools I turn to:
Body Awareness
I listen to early signs: tension in my jaw and shoulders, sugar cravings, irritability, disconnection. My body always speaks first.
Micro-Rituals
Small anchors keep me grounded—lighting a candle, stepping outside barefoot, making one nourishing meal, drinking herbal tea instead of caffeine.
Energetic Scheduling
I protect white space. I no longer try to “catch up” by overbooking myself. I batch tasks, create cycles, and give myself permission to rest.
Therapy & Coaching
Having a space to speak truth without judgment has helped me process and reframe the hard stuff.
Nervous System Tools
EFT tapping, walking with a friend, gentle somatic flows, and time in nature are now my reset buttons.
Permission to Be Human
I remind myself daily: feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean I’m failing. It means I’m overdue for care.
You’re Not Alone. And You’re Not Failing.
If you’ve ever locked yourself in the bathroom and cried on the floor—this is for you.
If you’ve ever snapped and felt instant shame—this is for you.
If you’ve ever dreamed of running away—not forever, just long enough to breathe—this is for you.
Burnout doesn’t make you a bad mom. It means you’ve been trying to do too much with too little support for too long.
And you don’t have to stay stuck.
xx, Kelly