Tips to Avoid Burnout as a Single Mom

When you’re a mother—especially a single mother—there will often be times when you might feel as if you’ve reached (or even surpassed) your breaking point. They say that it takes a village to raise a child, and you are serving many roles as a single mother. Burnout can happen in many forms, whether it’s mental or physical. And there are several factors which can cause us to feel this way. Stressful relationships, working long hours, and parenting alone are all viable reasons that can cause burnout.

If you’re hoping to establish some practices to regenerate your spirt, we’ve compiled these tips to help you avoid burn out a single mom.

First…

Remember, you can’t do it all alone.

If your child’s parent is completely out of the picture, this is easier said than done. But it’s important for you to rely on help from others to raise your children if you’re the sole caregiver. Family members will likely want to help you because they feel for you and admire your strength. Do not be stubborn or mistake their kindness for charity, allow them to help!

Bear in mind that you are a human being even when you feel like Superwoman.

Sure, you really can do it all. Every day you go through the steps to care for your children AND provide for your household. But at the end of the day, you have to remember that you’re human and not a superhero. When we forgo our basic needs and always put others first, it can send our mental health into a downward spiral—fast. Too often we are praised for overworking, never resting, and being on the go 24/7. But the harsh reality is that this is not healthy and should be avoided. There will be times when you will be slammed, but remember not to overbook yourself for the sake of your own mental well-being.

Learn the power of saying “no”—and utilize it.

The word no is an incredibly powerful tool to wield when the opportunity presents itself for you to put yourself first. And if you’re a person who considers themselves to be a people pleaser, then chances are you don’t voice the word “no” often. The power of saying no to things you don’t want to do is imperative to your mental health. It’s not rude or unfair to anyone but yourself if you commit to things that you truly don’t want to do. You don’t need to feel guilted and give too much of yourself saying yes to things that won’t benefit you in the long run.

Practice self-care.

It’s been said that self-care equals self-love, and this is very true. Many single moms are on a tight budget, but thankfully, you don’t have to spend a lot to make yourself feel good. Best of all, self-care comes in many forms. Whether it’s journaling, exercising, giving yourself a pedicure, or simply having some downtime to yourself. Whatever your preferred method of self-care may be, remember, you must be mindful about doing this!

Get Connected to Community.

Many single mothers struggle with feeling alone with their experiences and their responsibilities. It doesn’t have to be this way. There is so much strength in sharing your story and learning from other single moms. If you aren’t connected to a community of single moms, please join us! Single Mom Spot is an online community for single moms to find inspiration, encouragement and resources. All single moms are invited to subscribe for free to access Financial Resources, Legal Resources and our SMS Life Magazine. All of our content is curated for single moms which means it is JUST FOR YOU!

Do you have any tips of your own to share that helps you to avoid burnout as a single mom? We’d love to hear what they are—leave a comment and share!