Mom Burnout and Boundaries: How to Reclaim Your Time and Energy

Dec 10

You know that bone-deep tiredness that doesn’t go away with sleep? That’s not laziness. That’s burnout. And for so many moms, burnout isn’t just about too much to do—it’s about too little space for themselves.

Boundaries are how we begin to shift that.

1. What Is Mom Burnout?

Burnout isn’t just a workplace issue. It happens in motherhood, too, especially when the physical, mental, and emotional load falls heavily on you. Signs of mom burnout might include:

Feeling numb or easily overwhelmed
Resenting the people you love
Struggling to enjoy things you used to
Feeling like you’re always behind, no matter how hard you try

Burnout doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you need support, and boundaries are part of that support.

2. Why Boundaries Matter for Burnout

When you’re deep in burnout, your system is in survival mode. You might feel too depleted to even ask for what you need. Boundaries help:

Protect your energy
Clarify your capacity
Create space for rest and repair

They allow you to be responsive, not reactive, to parent from a grounded place, not a frayed one.

3. Boundaries That Help (Even If You’re Tired)

If you’re already stretched thin, start small. Here are a few low-effort boundaries with big impact:

The “good enough” rule: Dinner doesn’t have to be homemade.
The Sunday night buffer: Set aside 30 minutes for yourself before the week begins.
The invisible labour audit: List what you’re carrying—and ask yourself, “What can be shared, skipped, or simplified?”

Boundaries aren’t about doing more. They’re about doing less, with intention.

4. You’re Allowed to Ask for Help

Therapy isn’t just for when you’re falling apart. It’s also for when you’re carrying too much and don’t know how to put it down. Together, we explore the invisible pressures you're holding, what’s getting in the way of saying no, and how to build a life that includes you.

5. Let’s Talk

I’m Anne—a therapist who supports moms navigating anxiety, overwhelm, and identity shifts. If you’re feeling stretched to your limit, you’re not alone.

Book a free 20-minute consultation here so we can talk about how therapy might help.

Anne Bomstad Miller