Avoiding Mom Burnout
A recent study commissioned by Welch’s (yes, the grape juice people) of 2,000 moms with kids aged 5-12 found that the average working mom clocked in 98 hours of “work” per week. They found that the average mom’s “work” day began at 6:23am and didn’t “end” until 8:31pm. I bet that isn’t surprising to any of you, is it? Even if you don’t work outside the home, a mom’s work is never ending. While it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks to be completed and things to stay on top of, here are two things to remember so that you are able to manage family life without losing your mind:
Put your blinders on. So your best friend meal plans a month at a time. Good for her. Or maybe you’ve got a co-worker with kids in all kinds of sports who also sings in the church choir and has a husband who does all the laundry. Good for her. Like I’m always saying moms, stay in your lane and, “look well to the ways of YOUR household.” (Proverbs 31:27, NASB) Realize what works for others may not work for your family and vice versa, and that is okay!
2. Be true to yourself. Listen, I could be really specific and say, “be organized”, “get on a schedule”, “meal prep every Sunday”, etc. But at the end of the day, you may not be wired that way, and my words would only bring more stress into your life. Take some time to figure YOU out, then lead from there. What household tasks stress you out most? Can you figure out why? Could you ask for help there or maybe even outsource it in some way? What day of the week or time of day don’t seem to be working well for your family? Can you pinpoint something you need to let go of or something you could add in (Clicklist comes to mind!) to help you out?
I am not naturally an organized person, but I live with a VERY organized person. I have had to figure myself out and work from my strengths. If you play to your strengths, you’re more likely to maintain a routine or a habit and avoid the burnout that comes from trying to do it all like superwoman.