As a mom of four littles under six (yes I had four kids in five years!) I know how exhausting raising littles can be! The sleepless nights, the midnight feedings, the middle of the night accidents and wake ups, they all take a toll on us- mentally, emotionally and physically. In this blog post I am breaking down actions you can take to get some rest and feel replenished. 

Tips when you are Exhausted (in general)

When I am exhausted, I use what I can to help me throughout the day! Take these tips and tricks and use them if they feel aligned or pick and choose which ones you like! We are all doing our best raising our littles and these have helped me when the sleepless nights have me feeling like a total mom-zombie. 

• Tell your littles

  • The first thing I will do is tell them I am tired. That way they know from the get go that I am not at 100% mom mode and maybe (not always) give me a small break and get along :)

• Ask for what you need

  • I am a big believer in asking for what I need with my littles. I will say “I need some space for a minute, can you go play?” or I will tell them “I need a break, I am going to sit in X room for a few minutes.” Not only is this giving you what you need but you are also modeling for your littles how to show what you need and ask for it. This is SO powerful for everyone involved. 

• Use what you have!

  • I am not above TV time when I am tired. It is basically how I survived the days of four littles and a pandemic. I know that screen time can be a controversial topic but if I am tired, I have no issue putting them in front of a movie and resting in another room so I can feel replenished for a bit. Whether you prefer TV, tablets or video games--use what you have to work for you. If you have a little who doesn’t have the attention span for a movie, attempt to rest when they rest or nap. I know that can get tricky but the point is to get you some rest while still being on mom-duty. 

• Ask for help

  • I am blessed and my family is close. If there is a day where I need a nap/break, I will ask for help. Whether that be my in laws taking them or my husband stepping in during his lunch so I an lay down for 30 minutes. Also, consider a swap with other mom friends and see if they can watch your kids for an afternoon and then another time you can watch hers. There is nothing like a supportive mom friend to get you through the harder days. 

• Avoid the Blue Light

  • When you are tired, it is easier to numb out on our phones. Consider not using your phone when you are exhausted so that the blue light doesn’t mess with your circadian rhythm. The last thing you want is to lay your head down on your pillow at night and not be able to sleep because you were exposed to too much blue light before bed!

Tips When You Are Mentally Exhausted

When you are mentally exhausted by motherhood, try incorporating meditation! Meditating for me is a time where I quiet my mind, focus on breathing and listen to calming music. Many times I lay down for 5 minutes during our “quiet time” after lunch. Sometimes my daughter joins me and sometimes it doesn’t last more than a minute. Meditating can be a walk looking at nature and being present. Meditating can be driving and looking for the beautiful things around you. Meditating can be sitting on a comfy pillow and focusing on your breathing. Meditating is an opportunity to quiet the chaos and be in the present moment--however that looks and feels for you.

Tips for When You Are Emotionally Exhausted

When you are emotionally exhausted, let the emotion out! When most of us were raised, we were told “you are fine! Stop crying! Big kids don’t cry.” When really, letting the emotion out is SO important. When you feel emotionally exhausted, let the emotion out! Scream into your pillow, hit your bed or cry in the shower. This is called somatic releasing and is a healthy way for you to get that emotional energy out of your body. There is NO shame in crying or screaming- it allows all that emotion to pass through your body rather than get stuck and create dis-ease within your body. 

Tips For When You Are Physically Exhausted

When your body is physically tapped out, you need to listen to it. Ask for help, hire a babysitter for an afternoon or ask a friend to step in. It is ok to rest--it is needed and so often we dismiss our needs for the sake of others. If you read my blog post about 16 habits of Happy, Vibrant Moms, you know how I feel about this! If you can’t get someone to help so you can rest, once your littles are asleep, you go to sleep too! Skip dishes, laundry, and all the other tasks we have for a day so you can catch up and feel refreshed! 

That is why I put together a short mini-course that helps you learn about yourself AND your little! When we understand each other, parenting goes smoother and becomes fun rather than a chore! Take the guess work out of parenting to make your life easier.

Aligned Parent Mini-Course is an easy and quick way to set yourself up for parenting success and change the way you act and communicate with your littles! What if you understood your child’s the fundamental reasons for why your kid is the way he/she is? There is a module on Temperament! Or do you know what your parenting style is and the different types? There is a module explaining and breaking it down for you! This mini-course will give you valuable and insightful knowledge that will change your parenting forever.

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ALIGNED PARENTS MINI-COURSE

I believe parenting should be a fun and happy experience and sometimes that means digging deeper into ourselves and learning more! Helping burnt out moms is my passion because once upon a time, I was just like you! And if you want to take your burnout even farther, check out my FREE video training on Stop Yelling at Your Littles.