Mommy Burnout: How To Reclaim Your Life & Raise Healthier Children

Sheryl Ziegler, author of “Mommy Burnout” and mother of three noticed a pattern of chronic stress and burnout when working with clients who are moms in her psychology practice. Later she went through burnout when raising her second child. These experiences led her to do extensive research on motherhood, happiness, loneliness, and even parenting from a historical point of view. This all culminated in her brilliant and supportive parenting book and a ton of knowledge regarding mommy burnout and how to handle the stressors of parenting in the modern world that she shares in this episode.

What is Mommy Burnout?

Mommy burnout can be defined as the chronic emotional and physical exhaustion from being a caregiver, and it often results in the belief that you are not doing your job well.

What are the signs of Mommy Burnout?

- trouble falling or staying asleep
- being exhausted regardless of the amount of sleep you get
- physical symptoms such as headaches, disinterest in sex, losing things or putting them where they don’t belong
- Where does your attention and time go? They are finite resources

Highlights

The evolution of mommy burnout can be traced throughout the past few decades
Why today’s women over-tend to their children
Motherhood has become a lonely experience
Social Media and motherhood

Sheryl’s tips for battling burnout:

- Stop accepting that motherhood is self-sacrificing. Women are losing themselves in the name of being a good parent, and it doesnt need to be that way – reclaiming yourself and your interests is vital in raising healthy children. You cannot give something to your children that you do not have, ex: happiness, self-worth.
- Find a sense of purpose in motherhood. Women get lost in mundane daily chores, forgetting that they are raising the next generation and shaping the future.
- Limit the time and attention given to social media, and be present in your interactions with friends, family, and your children.

About my guest

Dr. Ziegler is a regular local FOX news contributor as a subject matter expert in childhood and family related issues, is featured on an Ask the Experts live segment on the local NBC morning news and has been featured on live segments on CW’s Day Break/Good Day Colorado live shows as well. She has appeared on The Katie Couric Show discussing how to talk to kids about the legalization of recreational marijuana use and has been featured in the Denver Post and other local magazines.

Resources and links

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With gratitude,

Anna