February 17, 2025

238: Feeling exhausted and overwhelmed? Tools to help you cope

51 minutes

Feeling Overwhelmed by Parenting Stress? You’re Not Alone.

If you’re exhausted, stretched too thin, and struggling with the stress of parenting, you’re not the only one. Many parents—especially mothers—find themselves running on empty, constantly trying to meet everyone’s needs while their own go unnoticed. Parenting stress can leave you feeling frustrated, drained, and even angry at your kids, whom you love so much.

In this episode, we’re unpacking why parenting can feel like too much and what we can do about it. We’ll explore the hidden pressures that push parents toward burnout, the unrealistic expectations we place on ourselves, and small shifts that can help you feel more supported, more present, and less overwhelmed by the daily stress of parenting.

Questions this episode will answer

Why does parenting feel so much harder than I expected?
Is it normal to feel resentful or emotionally drained from the stress of parenting?
Am I an angry parent? Is this just who I am?
How can I take care of myself when my kids need me all the time?
Why do I feel guilty when I set boundaries or ask for help?
What small, doable changes can I make to feel more balanced and present?

What you’ll learn in this episode

Why so many parents feel like they’re drowning—and why it’snot your fault
What’s really behind that constant exhaustion and frustration
Practical ways to lighten the load without adding more to your to-do list
How small mindset shifts can make parenting feellessoverwhelming
How to recognize when parenting stress is turning you into an angry parent—and what to do about it

This isn’t about striving for perfection or forcing yourself to do more. It’s about finding simple, meaningful ways to care for yourself while still showing up for your family.

Parental Burnout Quiz

Here's the quiz mentioned in the episode: https://en.burnoutparental.com/suis-je-en-burnout

If you snap at your kids more often than you'd like...

If your anger seems to come out of nowhere, and you can't stop it...

If you've promised your kids you won't yell at them as much, but keep on doing it...

...the Why You're So Angry with Your Child's (Age 1- 10) Age-Appropriate Behavior - And What to Do About It masterclass will help.

Click the banner to learn more!

Core episodes we reviewed:

111: Parental Burn Out
130: Introduction to mindfulness and meditation with Diana Winston
122: Self-compassion for Parents
186: How to meet your needs with Mara Glatzel
SYPM 009: How to Set Boundaries in Parenting

Other episodes referenced

193: You don't have to believe everything you think
121: How to support your perfectionist child
017: Don't bother trying to increase your child's self-esteem

Jump to highlights

02:21 Introduction of episode

04:05 Four key symptoms of parental burnout

05:00 Factors why the parents in some countries burnout more than others.

06:02 Kelly's burnout experience

08:55 Cortisol level on burnout parent

09:28 Important risk factors for burnout

11:30 The roles of societal expectations on parents

12:58 Personal strategies to address burnout

13:37 Mindfulness awareness

20:25 Self-compassion for parents

21:43 Parents debilitating perfectionism

24:20 Strategy for achieving self-compassion

25:54 Introduction on parental neediness

29:33 The common barrier to prioritize needs

31:31 Need that often gets neglected

34:50 Difference between boundaries and limits

38:36 Why we default to limiting so much

39:59 What happens when parents don’t set boundaries

43:13 Reasons why parents feel overwhelmed

49:00 Ideas to bring out to life

...more

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By Jen Lumanlan

4.7

410410 ratings