Raising a child can bring joy, love and deep fulfillment. But modern-day parenting takes place against a backdrop of many life pressures – demanding jobs, financial stressors, grief, separation, and sometimes a lack of extended family support. Parent burnout is a common phenomenon, with 60% of parents in a recent study saying they never find time to relax and recharge and nearly half feeling they do not have enough time to get everything done. Self-care might seem like a luxury, especially during a cost-of-living crisis, but evidence shows parent self-care is crucial to the wellbeing of children and vital for parents’ physical and emotional health.

In this episode of the Life Ed Podcast, child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Kaylene Henderson, a busy mum of three, shares her down-to-earth tips for combating parent burnout. Perfectionism and trying to do it all are a recipe for burnout. Instead, we should focus more on lowering the bar and delighting in our children and the quality of our relationships with them says Dr Henderson. Set your own priorities, avoid comparison, and put yourself at the top of the 'to-do' list. And if your sink is sometimes overflowing with dishes, that’s okay too.