Need Advice from Other Mums – Feeling Overwhelmed, Any Tips?

[itachisas]

Hi everyone, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed lately with everything – parenting, work, and just life in general. I know many of you have been through similar phases, and I’d really appreciate any advice or practical tips that help you cope when things get too much. How do you manage your time, stay calm, or just take a break for yourself without feeling guilty? Thanks in advance!

Why would I feel guilty? That's what husbands are for..

This is a boring suggestion, but it's one that has helped me.

I have a notebook and pen to hand and I write down everything that I need to do, whether it's urgent now or a reminder that it's someone's birthday next month and I need a card, or I need to look for the spare phone charger as we will need it in three months when we go on holiday. Everything that needs doing or pops into my head goes on the list. I will WhatsApp myself during the day if I need to remind myself about something to add to the list.

I get up 20 - 30 mins before I need to and make a cuppa, and I take this quiet time to go through the list, update it, think about the day ahead and what needs to be done. And breathe. If I can do it outdoors in the back garden, then that's a bonus.

I don't do it every day, because sometimes its not possible, but just doing this three times a week helps, I feel more in control.

Hey there, thank you for being so open—honestly, just saying it out loud (or typing it out) is already a big first step.
What’s helped me—and a few friends who’ve been in the same boat—is letting go of the pressure to be “on” all the time. Life’s a bit messy, and that’s okay.

We adopted our DS and the advice I was given by our social worker was don't try to be a perfect parent, that's the road to madness. Just be an adequate parent. That'll do!

I apply that across the board now. I try to avoid striving for perfection, I am happy to be adequate.

So now mostly I know (from a regular perusal of my list two or three times a week) that I am vaguely on track and perfection is not a requirement, and it's quite freeing. It took a lot away a lot of self imposed pressure to meet self imposed expectations. Tell yourself to give yourself a break and be happy with adequate.