Mom Mood: OVERWHELMED
See also: about to lose it, ready to scream, drowning
Ever have one of those days where you can’t seem to focus on anything because, well, [gestures widely]? Maybe you’re just frozen in place because there’s too much to do?
Motherhood’s a lot, and “balancing it all” is—let’s be honest here—sort of impossible. Between managing the mental load, feeding your family, and attempting to stay connected to your friends, partner, and self, it’s no wonder moms feel like they’re drowning.
Sadly, we can’t force your kid’s school to dial back the number of spirit days or reduce the number of meetings on your calendar, but on this page we can give you a few tools to help you find (semi-)quiet moments amid the chaos.
💜 KNOW THIS
“If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re probably trying to do too much all at once. But you don’t have to do it all. Instead, write down your list. Look for the one thing that needs your attention right now and start there.”
— Dr. Diana E. Ramos (California Surgeon General)
💜 TRY THIS
Make a list of three things you *actually* have to do today and focus on those. The rest can wait till tomorrow.
💜 LISTEN TO THIS
This free session with Jeff Warren offers simple tools to support your mental and emotional well-being as you navigate the whirlwind of parenting.
For more support, download Calm to listen to the additional two sessions below.
11 tools to reclaim your calm, address acute anxiety and chronic stress, and build confidence for life.
Stress is a natural part of life and this session guides you through releasing it with Tai-Chi-inspired moves.
💜 READ THIS
Why moms these days are so stressed (and how they can cope)
It's no secret that moms are more stressed than ever, and it's taking a toll on their mental and physical health. Explore 9 tips to help moms cope with all that stress.
Why parental stress is worse than ever (and how to handle it)
Experts have warned that parents are more stressed out than ever — but why? Explore the reasons for parental stress, how to handle it, and where to get help.
How to relieve stress quickly (in 10 minutes or less)
Explore what stress is, including the impact of cortisol, and why it's important to reduce it. Plus, how to relieve stress quickly with 10 ways to find calm.
Are you a millennial mom in a midlife crisis? Here’s 10 tips to cope
If that full life you once dreamed of is now fully leading to a midlife crisis, you're not alone. Explore the real challenges millennial moms face, and 10 tips to help you cope.
Is invisible labor the reason you're stressed? 7 tips for relief
Being a parent is a full-time job that comes with so many unseen tasks and decisions. Explore why this invisible labor often falls to women, and 7 ways to get some relief.
Other Mom Moods
A mindful note on the focus on “moms”
Not Calm Moms focuses on maternal mental health because moms disproportionately carry the mental load—but that doesn’t mean we’re leaving others out.
While this initiative is designed for moms, Calm offers a range of resources that support all caregivers. Partners, co-parents, and support systems play a critical role, and we encourage everyone to be part of the conversation. And when we use the term "mom," we're addressing anyone who identifies as a mom.
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