Being a working parent is hard. In fact, it’s one of the most trying roles that you can take on as a human being. Between work and home life, there’s never enough time in the day to do everything you need to do. And with so much on your plate at once, it’s no wonder why people feel stressed out and burnt out all of the time. But what does being burnt out actually mean?
Here are some signs that might help:
You feel tired all of the time
As a working parent, you have to manage your time effectively and consistently. You have to be able to get through the day on four hours of sleep while still getting everything done that needs to be done. The problem is that this can lead to a lot of stress and burnout if it happens too often.
If you find yourself feeling exhausted all of the time, especially if it's preventing you from engaging with your family or doing things that are important for self-care, then it might be time for some changes in order to help prevent burnout from becoming something more serious.
You're irritable or impatient with your child and your partner
If you find yourself getting irritated or impatient with your child and/or partner, it's a sign that you are burnt out. You may be particularly irritable when your child asks to do something that you don’t want them to do. If they ask for ice cream for dinner, for example, instead of just saying no and explaining why (which is what many burnt out working parents would do), you may snap at them or yell at them in front of other family members or friends. This can lead to further problems such as conflict between the two of you over who has been more helpful around the house and who hasn't done enough work around the house. Even if there isn't any actual conflict between the two of you over chores and responsibilities, this can still cause tension for both parents and children alike because everyone will end up feeling unappreciated by their spouse or parent respectively due to their lack of support during these difficult times when one spouse/parent works full time while another stays home all day with kids every single day instead!
Kids' activities are a source of resentment
One sign that you’re a burnt out working parent is if you feel resentment toward your kids' activities. You might be feeling this way if:
You don't have time to do the things you want to do because of all the time spent on your child's extracurriculars.
Your child's activities take away from the time you could spend with them.
You feel like doing everything for your kid, especially since their father isn't helping out as much as he should be or could be (if they even have a father).
You get frustrated when friends offer their help with childcare duties, because they're not aware how much there actually is to do in order for one parent to leave the house and go back into work mode.
The house or apartment is in disarray
Living in a messy house or apartment can make you feel errant, disorganized and out of control. You may be so busy trying to get everything done that you don’t have time to clean up after yourself. Your life may be running away from you, leaving little opportunity for organization or planning.
You can't remember the last time you went to the bathroom alone
You've been so busy that you can't remember the last time you went to the bathroom alone.
You're a working parent, so this is normal. You have your kids, your job, and then the housework that comes with it all. And if you don't find time for yourself soon, it could lead to burnout—a state of physical or mental exhaustion caused by stress and overwork.
To make sure this doesn't happen to you, find ways to take care of yourself—even if just for 15 minutes at a time. Use your alone time wisely: meditate; take a nap; read a book; do some exercise (or watch TV). Treat yourself!
You've lost interest in things that used to make you happy
You've lost interest in things that used to make you happy. This can take the form of:
Not feeling like doing the things that used to bring a smile to your face.
Not feeling like spending time with people who used to bring a smile to your face.
Not feeling like reading, watching movies and TV shows, playing video games, or listening to music anymore because they all remind you too much of your current state of being (burnt out).
You feel guilty all the time
Guilt is an emotion. It's normal to feel guilt when we do something that we think might hurt other people, whether it's accidentally leaving the oven on or accidentally forgetting to pick your kids up from school. But if you're constantly feeling guilty and can't enjoy life anymore, it may be time to seek help.
There are two types of guilt: adaptive and maladaptive. The first type helps us learn from our mistakes (like the time I accidentally left my child in the car for three hours). The second type hinders our ability to move forward (like if I beat myself up about not being able to control how hot it gets in my car). If your feelings of guilt are interfering with your ability to function as a parent and/or employee, or if they're keeping you from doing things that bring joy into your life—that's when it's time to seek help!
If you think that you might be burning out, take a moment to talk to your partner and friends. Ask them how they are doing and if they are feeling any of the same things as you. Sometimes it’s easier to avoid talking about burnout because we don’t want people to worry about us or think we are weak. But the more support you have from other working parents around you, the better off you will be.
If these conversations don't help at all or make things worse, then it may be time for some professional help. Talk with a therapist who specializes in working parents who have experienced burnout. This person can help guide your next steps into figuring out what needs changing in order for this situation not repeat itself again in future years when another child arrives home!
There’s no shame in admitting that being a parent is hard work. But if you feel like you’re struggling to keep up with the demands of both your children and your job, it might be time for some changes. If you want to take back control of your life and get more sleep, these are some signs that point to burnout.
It can be tough to tell the difference between just feeling tired or frustrated about parenting and actually being burnt out, but there are some signs that point towards serious exhaustion. If any of these apply to you right now, then it’s worth stepping back and taking stock before things get even worse!