Mommy Mojo: Suffering from the Mom Triple Threat? Overcoming Being Overworked, Overtired and Overwhelmed

Listen to any mother and she will likely describe herself with what I call the big 3 O’s: Overworked, Overtired and Overwhelmed!

When we are bouncing from activity to activity, switching hats from mom duty to household manager to savvy businesswoman, it is easy to feel overspent and overstretched. No matter how much we, moms, pride ourselves on juggling and multi-tasking, there comes a point when we need to pause, take stock and overcome overwhelm.

You may ask, why does this matter now? Summer was a welcome break from many of the duties that push us into overwhelm. But with September just around the corner, soon enough you will be coordinating new calendars, adjusting your children to new classes, and integrating their extra-curricular to your life-work schedule.

Before long, you may find yourself quickly sliding back into the old 3 O’s.

How to Overcome the Dangerous Mom Triple Threat

When you are experiencing one or all three O’s, you are more likely putting your stuff, like your goals and projects, business ideas, self-care, on the back burner. You may lose focus, drop commitments, or even give-up on that infinitely growing to-do list.

#1: Simplify – Set only three key goals for the entire week. Write only 2 to 3 to do’s each day. What are the top 2 items that will give you a sense of ‘victory’ if you got them done today?

#2: Stick to Self-care – As soon as we go into overwhelming times, we tend to drop our support lines. The ‘I can do it alone’ mindset often brings out the mother-as-martyr archetype, leaving you feeling bitter, resentful, and sacrificial. If you are engaged in a support group, therapy, coaching or counseling, do not drop out or let it go. Stick with it to help you navigate overwhelming times.

#3: State It – Let others in. Tell your children and husband exactly how it feels. Caution: no blaming here, just simply stating what you are feeling. Then state your needs with clear and specific terms. Ask for their collaboration at this challenging time. Husbands and children are more eager to collaborate when they are actively participating in brainstorming, problem solving, and solution seeking conversations.