I remember how exhausted I felt when my son was a newborn. Things got much better when he started sleeping longer stretches at night, but every once in while I got to the point where I simply felt depleted again. The stress of juggling childcare, work, and household duties along with the physical demands of motherhood took their toll on me. I quickly realized that this burned out feeling was not only unhealthy for me, but also affected my son. I was a much better caregiver when I wasn’t feeling so depleted. I really had to take a step back and think of how I could start taking care of myself better. Here are my top 3 tips to combat Mom Burnout:

1. Take your vitamins–  Proper nutrition is so important as a Mom. Your body needs vitamins and nutrients to heal, protect you from sickness, and boost your energy and metabolism. Food is the best source of vitamins, but it can be difficult to eat healthy, balanced meals all the time when you’re constantly busy or on the go. At the very least take a daily multivitamin if you’re concerned you might not be getting proper nutrition. B vitamins help convert dietary energy into the energy that your body uses, so I take Biotin because it also benefits your hair, skin, and nails. A probiotic can improve your digestion, making you feel more energetic. And fish oil benefits your memory and eye health (two areas that can suffer when you’re really tired). Be sure to consult with your doctor before starting a vitamin/supplement regimen.
2. Treat yourself– A month ago a friend of mine reminded me how important it is to have a night to yourself as a Mom, and I realized it had been a while since I had done that. You absolutely need time apart from your children sometimes, whether it’s a date night or a girls night out, go and have fun and let your hair down for a while. I also love getting massages as often as I can now. My body and mood benefit from these relaxing treatments. If you can afford a full spa day go for it, but there are also budget friendly options via chains like Massage Envy and deals on Groupon.
3. Call on your team– I don’t believe children were meant to be raised in isolation, I think the old adage that it takes a village to raise a child is true. Sometimes you need backup help and support from family or friends. If someone has offered to watch your children and you think they’re responsible then take them up on it. if you don’t have a strong support system check out Single Mom Chic’s book, it has a great chapter about building your team. Having other people around to help is not only extremely practical for reducing your life stress, but also has social benefits for your children.

Those are my top tips for combatting Mom burnout, what are your tips? Help us tired mommas out.

-Courtney