Are you a mom? Then chances are you have been where I’ve been and that’s in a really bad space feeling completely out of control. Sometimes it can feel like you just don’t know what to do or if anything can really help. But, I’m here to tell you there are ways you can overcome those negative feelings. So, I’m going to share with you my 5 best tips for overwhelmed moms.
Sometimes I just want to scream into a pillow and by sometimes I mean yesterday. It was the first day of virtual learning for my kindergartner and I just could not hang. I was instantly overwhelmed and carried that feeling with me the entire day. As a matter of fact, I carried that feeling with me to bed and woke up with it when my baby needing a feeding in the middle of the night.
Like most mamas, I had a lot on my plate but no room in my belly.
Everything I had planned for the day was thrown to the wind because I had to sit with Shark Baby for virtual learning. It started when we couldn’t log in because we had the wrong student number. We were late logging on and thus late to the Zoom meeting. She wouldn’t participate, she kept turning on her mic and at one point started to cry. All the while I had another crying kid sitting on my lap, a stack of dishes, a pile of laundry and my other virtual learner (high schooler) who was having technical difficulties.
I also forgot to take out meat for dinner which led to my husband cooking. Let me tell you, he left my already messy kitchen a disaster. But, to top it off, he over-peppered the food so we just ended up eating McDonalds.
Even rehashing parts of my day is overwhelming. Whew.
I’m sharing all that because I know I’m not alone. I know there is a whole world full of women like me who are overwhelmed.
You aren’t alone either.
Motherhood is joyous and beautiful and wonderful and you probably can’t imagine life without your kids but, it can also be overwhelming. Yes, we’re mothers but, we’re also people. It’s hard enough to care for ourselves let alone the lives we birthed. When it becomes too much, it’s not only hard to admit it but, to actually deal with it.
Yesterday was a reminder to myself that there are always going to be times when motherhood gets to be too much and that’s okay. It’s normal. It was a reminder that I need to have a plan in place for when I feel overwhelmed so I can get back to a good mental space and show up for my kiddos.
I have a few tactics I use when I’m feeling overwhelmed that I think could really help someone else. Someone like you. They’re really simple and effective. I won’t promise they’ll zap the feeling away instantly but they can help.
What to do when motherhood feels overwhelming
Simple Tips for Overwhelmed Moms
- Name 5 things you are grateful for
Last night, I excused myself for a “mommy moment” to make my list. It was hard until I realized that I wasn’t alone, the baby was sleeping in her crib, I was definitely grateful for that. Then I heard someone washing dishes. Grateful. Then I realized there was no yelling, no video games, no running around; the house was quiet. Grateful. Finding two more things was a breeze after that.
- Move your body
Check out this article about mental health and exercise
Run, dance, lift some weights. Use your body to move that bad energy out of you. Feeling overwhelmed isn’t something you should “rest away”, get up and getting moving.
- Declutter
When I took my “mommy moment” I went to my room. If my room was in it’s usual cluttered state, I might have lost my mind. Having clutter around us can amplify the feeling of being overwhelmed but, decluttering can take some of the edge of. I’m not talking about a big cleaning, even something as simple as straightening up a stack of papers, picking up trash, or gathering up all your dirty clothes.
- Ask for help
I can’t speak for anyone else but, asking for help is hard. In a way it makes me feel like I’m not capable but, that’s just a lie I tell myself. Help is OK!
- Take a moment to breath
When we feel overwhelmed, we usually feel out of control. Taking a moment of our time to just breath, is taking a moment to take control. Sure, taking control of our breathing might not seem like it could help anything but it does. Close your eyes and take the biggest breath you can, or want. This is your moment to be in control and it feels great.
Did you find these tips for overwhelmed moms helpful? Share it with someone else who could benefit.
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