The last two weeks in the Taylor household have been stressful to say the least. Logan has been working insane hours at work. He’s putting in 60 plus hours a week, making home life a little crazier than normal. On top of that, the sun doesn’t seem to want to come out and all it’s done is rain rain rain! It’s funny how much weather factors in on changing a person’s mood. 

All this being said, I’ve found myself in a funk: The dreaded mommy burnout. I’ve been running low on patience, feeling a little more anxious than normal, and even a little depressed. I’ve been so grouchy and whiny lately that I’ve even began to get irritated with myself! I am sick of feeling this way, so I’ve decided to put on a pair of big girl panties and deal with it – and here’s how. 

 What to do When Suffering From Mommy Burnout:

SHOWER! It’s so simple. Hop in the shower, shut the bathroom door, and turn on the water. Even if it’s just a quick five minute shower! I feel so much better after I’ve showered and washed my hair. The five minutes of not having a child climbing on me or needing me is just an added bonus. It’s almost an instant mood changer for me. 

Put on some make up! It’s not like you have to contour your entire face. But a little foundation, eye shadow, and mascara never killed anyone. When you look good you feel good.

Put on some REAL clothes. Really. I know you don’t think that pants ever get dirty, but those yoga pants you’ve been wearing for the last three days could stand to get washed. Once again, when you look good you feel good. 

Get out of the house! Anymore there’s lots of places to go to. Even if it’s just {gasp} McDonalds! The littles will love playing in the play place and even better you won’t have to make lunch or clean up after it! See if one of your mommy friends can come along too and make it a play date! 

Phone a friend. Phone! Not text. I know, who does that anymore? But sometimes it’s nice to hear another adult voice besides your own. 

Call a Grandma, or Auntie, or babysitter. Sometimes, Mom just needs a few hours away from the house – without kids. Even if it’s just to run a few errands! I did this just the other day and I literally ran out of the house before my husband could change his mind. I was SO excited to get away for a few hours. I came back refreshed and with a clear head. 

Do something that YOU enjoy. Do you have a hobby? Painting? Drawing? Crafting? Baking? DO IT! One of my favorite things to do with M is bake. Hearing her laugh and seeing her have fun instantly puts me in a better mood. 

It’s OKAY to leave cartoons on longer than you normally would. I’m a mean mom. M gets only an hour to play on her tablet a day and another hour or so of cartoons a day – and never in a row. However, last week she got double the TV time simply because I needed a breather. I needed time to shower and tidy up a little bit. There’s no shame in letting Doc McStuffins “babysit” every now and again. 

Remember, it’s okay to ask for help! As mom’s we always like to think that we can take on the world head on without any help from anyone, so it’s hard for us to admit that we need help. At least it is for me anyways. So, ask for help when you need it! There’s no shame! 

Get enough sleep. I work third shift two nights a week, so my sleep schedule can be kind of messed up and all over the place. When I stay up late and don’t get enough sleep I’m a liiiiittle bit grouchy the next day because I’m tired. But when I get enough sleep I feel so much more refreshed.

Consider waking up BEFORE the littles. I haven’t don’t this for awhile but I used to, and I felt SO much better going through my day. M and K wake up anywhere between 7 and 8, so I would wake up between 5 or 6, depending on how many times I hit the snooze button. I had time to shower, journal, craft, and enjoy my coffee in PEACE!! It was amazing. Since going back to work this hasn’t been easy for me to do, but it is something I want to get back into the routine of doing. 

So there. Those are my 11 Fool Proof Ways to get rid of mommy burnout! A lot of them are so simple! When we remember to take care of ourselves we are better able to take care of our families. 

What are some ways that you tackle mommy burnout? I’d love to hear them!