On Parental Stress & Burnout

Everyone with children feels burnt out, right? Pulled in some many different directions, with responsibilities everywhere you look. It’s so common to feel fatigued when parenting; it can be difficult to distinguish between what is just par for the course, as the saying goes, and what may be a serious problem or leading toward burnout. 

The word ‘burnout’ is regularly used across many different contexts, and even flippantly in conversation, but it is actually very real and can be very serious. 

Signs of burnout hide in plain sight. Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Reacting strongly to something that seems small in retrospect. Feeling like there is a huge mismatch between your feelings about something (often, what our children say or do, or don’t do) and what is actually occurring. Feeling constantly on edge, that a previously small task is too much, or extremely frustrated by others when previously it would have hardly registered, are all signs. 

It is important to not be judgemental about yourself in these situations, but rather, to observe without judgement, practice kindness to self in the same way you would towards a friend, and focus on what you need. Setting boundaries at work if you need to, or socially – limiting commitments that aren’t as fulfilling, having “daily-little-things” to look forward to, establishing support networks, and asking for help. As always, self-care is the way ahead. It means we will feel less reactive to others, as we focus in on being more realistic and accepting about what we need.