Burnout is often talked about in reference to the burnt out worker syndrome, people who feel extremely exhausted and dissatisfied with their work. But the truth is that this term can also be applied to raising children. Parental burnout is a problem that affects both your mental health and your relationship with your family, so you should not ignore it.
Parental burnout consists of a feeling of exhaustion regarding raising and caring for children. As highlighted by the specialized maternity portal Motherly, it shares the same pillars as work burnout: exhaustion, reduced inefficiency and depersonalization.
They explain that the symptoms of both are similar and, in addition, they tend to extend to other areas of life. That is, if you suffer from parental burnout, it is likely that it will also affect your work environment and vice versa.
They note that burnout can be due to several factors, including feeling conflicted about your priorities, doing boring work, lack of recognition for your work, not having support or social connections, perfectionist tendencies, a need for control and systemic discrimination. .
In any case, exhaustion should not be confused with stress. The first manifests itself with a disconnection, emotional blockage, helplessness, loss of motivation, hopelessness, detachment and even depression. For its part, stress tends more towards reactive emotions, produces urgency and hyperactivity, causes loss of energy and leads to anxiety disorders.
From Motherly they recommend lowering expectations and perfectionism when it comes to raising children. “Letting go of what you think should be perfect is the first step,” they note.
They also highlight the importance of creating boundaries around what is causing your burnout. To do this, they advise limiting work to the hours designated for this purpose, avoiding answering emails or calls outside of working hours. They also point out the importance of having a relaxing routine at the end of the day, having conversations with your children about setting limits, and taking time to do activities you enjoy.
Taking care of physical well-being is an important pillar, with a sufficient sleep routine and following healthy lifestyle habits that will make you feel better. Finally, they focus on the importance of communicating with people close to you and asking for help when you consider it necessary.
