I didn’t notice it at first. I told myself I was just tired, that once things slowed down, I’d feel like myself again. But Things never slowed down. I was snapping at my kids over little things, forgetting appointments, and sitting in my car in the driveway just to have a minute of silence before walking in. That wasn’t normal tired—that was burnout creeping in, and I didn’t want to see it.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on autopilot, holding it all together on the outside while falling apart inside, you’re not alone. Burnout sneaks in quietly, but the signals are there if we’re willing to pay attention. And catching them early can make the difference between barely surviving and actually living.
Here are some of the burnout signals every mom should recognize—and what you can do when you see them.
1. You’re tired in a way sleep doesn’t fix
You drag yourself out of bed already feeling behind. Coffee gets you through the morning, but by afternoon, you’re running on fumes. And even when you finally get a full night’s sleep, you wake up groggy, like you never rested at all.
👉 What to do next: Start with small rest rituals. Ten minutes with your phone off. A short walk after dinner. Going to bed thirty minutes earlier even if the laundry isn’t folded. Burnout recovery isn’t about one big fix—it’s about giving your body consistent signals that it’s safe to slow down.
2. Small things feel like big explosions
Your child spills juice, and you snap. Traffic makes you rage. A simple question from your partner feels like an attack. Deep down, you know these little things aren’t the real problem—it’s the layers of stress stacked on your shoulders that make you erupt.
👉 What to do next: When you feel the pressure building, pause. Literally step out of the room if you need to. Name it: “This is stress talking, not me.” Later, reflect on what’s underneath the explosion—maybe you’re overextended, under-supported, or ignoring your own needs. The awareness is the first step toward change.
3. You’re checked out of your own life
You go through the motions—meals, carpools, work, bedtime routines—but you feel disconnected. You’re there physically, but not really present. It’s like you’re living on the sidelines of your own life.
👉 What to do next: Pick one moment each day to anchor yourself. Sit at the table and actually taste your food. Hug your child and breathe in their scent. Notice the sunlight streaming through the window. Presence doesn’t require hours—it’s built in micro-moments of noticing.
4. Your body is waving red flags
Headaches. Tight shoulders. Stomach issues. Insomnia. These aren’t random—they’re your body begging you to pay attention. When stress doesn’t have an outlet, it shows up physically.
👉 What to do next: Don’t ignore these signals. Hydrate. Stretch. Get a checkup if something lingers. And find one stress outlet that works for you—whether it’s journaling, movement, or talking to someone you trust. Your body carries the truth before your mind admits it.
5. You’ve lost joy in what used to light you up
The hobbies you loved, the shows you enjoyed, the little things that once made you laugh—they don’t do it anymore. Instead, everything feels like another item on your to-do list. That spark that made you you feels dim.
👉 What to do next: Don’t wait for joy to come back on its own—chase it in small ways. Revisit one thing you used to love, even if it’s just for ten minutes. Sometimes joy needs a little invitation before it returns.
Burnout isn’t just about exhaustion—it’s about losing yourself in the shuffle of everyone else’s needs. My book, Mom Take Center Stage, is all about helping moms reclaim their voice, energy, and worth without apology. If you’ve been feeling the pull to choose yourself again, this book was written for you.
6. You’re living on autopilot
You get through the day, but you can’t remember half of it. You say “fine” when people ask how you are, but you’re not. Autopilot feels safe because it keeps you functioning, but it also keeps you from fully living.
👉 What to do next: Break the pattern with something different. Drive a new route, listen to music you loved as a teen, cook a new recipe. These small shifts wake your brain up and remind you that you’re still here—not just existing, but capable of living fully.
7. Guilt is your default setting
You feel guilty for working too much. Guilty for not working enough. Guilty for wanting time alone. Guilty for snapping. Guilty for resting. Burnout turns guilt into background noise, and it drowns out your sense of self-worth.
👉 What to do next: Start reframing guilt as a signal, not a sentence. Instead of “I’m a bad mom for needing space,” try “I’m a human being who deserves space.” Guilt loses its grip when you stop treating it as truth.
You Don’t Have to Wait Until It’s Too Late
Burnout doesn’t show up overnight—it builds slowly, layer by layer, until you don’t recognize yourself anymore. But you don’t have to wait until you break down to pay attention. The earlier you notice the signals, the sooner you can shift, reset, and breathe again.
Motherhood is demanding, yes—but you deserve to live it with energy, presence, and joy. You’re not just holding everything together for everyone else. You’re a whole person, too. And you’re allowed to take care of her.
✨ If this resonated with you, I dive even deeper into reclaiming your energy and self-worth in my book Mom Take Center Stage. It’s out now, and it’s here to remind you that you don’t have to disappear into motherhood to be a good mom—you can thrive in it.
Photo credit: https://unsplash.com/@helenalopesph
