10 Ways to Beat Mommy Burnout

Recharge – in under 20 minutes!

By Christina Katz

As a new mother, I definitely had my mommy meltdown moments. They snuck up on me, usually when I was endeavoring for the umpteenth time to finally get something done. That's when my baby girl, Samantha, would start to shriek because she wanted out of her two-speed swing, or when one of our three cats would decide to hurl a hairball across the light-colored carpet, and my lunch would explode in a muffled splat all over the inside of the microwave.
 

At times like these I'd get the hint and stop whatever I was doing. I'd pick up my pouty-lipped princess, collapse into our wonderfully overstuffed lounge chair, and begin to rhythmically rock and hum a lullaby. Samantha probably thought all this soothing behavior was for her benefit, but here's the truth: I was actually plotting my next 20-minute break--the best trick I've learned for how to avoid mommy burnout.
 

So next time life gives you 20 minutes, don't waste a single moment thinking it's not enough. Jump right into one of these relaxing rituals instead:
 

1.  Get your heart rate up. Take a brisk walk, preferably around the most scenic route in your neighborhood. As you walk, shake those baby-toting kinks out of your arms and shoulders.
 

2.  Write four fanciful postcards to your dearest faraway friends. Short on postcards? Find the four prettiest pieces of notepaper in the house and write a hand-written note with the most grown-up pen in the house.
 

3.  Flip through that old stack of magazines you never have time to read. Tear out the pages with articles that really interest you, staple them, and keep them in a magazine holder for grabbing on your way out the door. Read in the passenger seat, while waiting in line at the grocery store, or anywhere else you find yourself with a few minutes of down time.

4.  Make a collage. More fun with old magazines: Find images that represent your future hopes and goals then use them to create a collage or inspiration board. Don't hold back! Dream big.
 

5.  Set your DVR to record your favorite funny sitcoms. Then save viewing for times when you really need a laugh. During these times, shut the door, turn out the lights, and enjoy fast-forwarding through the commercials. Ahhh.
 

6.  Write down your idea of the perfect day. Break out your journal, start by writing about how you would like to wake up, and proceed all the way through, hour by hour, until your bedtime ritual. Be as descriptive as possible.
 

7.  Pick up the phone and call your best friend. Read her your perfect day and ask about hers.
 

8.  Throw a livingroom dance party. Close the shades, put on your iPod, find your favorite dance music, and get down! Don't stop until your stress and strain shimmy away. 
 

9.  Soak your feet in a warm footbath for 5 minutes. Push the cuticles back with an orange stick and apply two coats of your brightest, most cheerful nail polish to your toes. Be quick, they'll need a few minutes to dry.

10.  Engage your inner child. Finger paint, play with clay, or color with crayons. Focus on the fun of the process, not the quality of the product. You should get to play uninterrupted too sometimes.
 

Once you've found your favorite ways to briefly rekindle and relax, post your top five somewhere where you'll see them, like on the fridge or next to the bathroom mirror. When you take 20 minutes for yourself, you make life a little brighter for the whole family. Make it a habit and you'll see.

Christina Katz is a freelance writer and mom. She is the author of Writer Mama, How To Raise A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (Writer's Digest Books).