You know you’re on the verge of having a mommy meltdown

when you’re super overwhelmed and stressed.

These 5 hacks give solutions that work!

 

Looking back over the years, I was the worst at handling overwhelm and stress. It didn’t take much to make me feel like everything needed to be done at the same time. Everything and everyone called my name (Mommy, the same as yours!) and the noise and chaos created a panicked feeling that raced through my veins.

Like most moms, I wanted to be the best mom.

Most of the time, I was like other moms who struggled to be that awesome mom whose kids will text and call home once they grow up.

That’s why I wanted to give you a peek into my head and heart and share 5 hacks to avoid a mommy meltdown. Because. If you’re also that mom, you are desperately needing someone to come alongside you and encourage, equip, and let you know that you are not alone!

 

 

1. Getting Energized and Avoid A Meltdown!

 

What on earth does being a tired mom have to do with a mommy meltdown?

To tell you the truth, it has a lot to do with ending up in a meltdown. Let me tell you why.

To start at the beginning, I had one baby. Life was still overwhelming at times because it just is even with one child.

Eventually, I ended up with seven beautiful children but to be honest, life wasn’t always beautiful.

Even so, I wouldn’t go back and change ANYTHING-even if that were possible. It was through my mom-life that God taught me more than I ever would have know if I had never had my first baby.

Being a mom means that there are endless To-Dos to do. Each moment is packed with a million tasks and from sunup to sundown there is hardly a free moment. That is, unless you find yourself mindlessly scrolling social feeds.

You might be an early bird and fly out of bed before daylight. Or. You might be a night owl and crash into bed after 1 pm!

I was both!  Which are you?

I was trying to get it all done even though that is never possible. It took me until I had five teenagers to realize that staying up super late didn’t translate into getting more done.

When you are a tired mom, you tend to be more stressed during the day.

It goes without saying to go to bed earlier. That may not be possible. Things just have to get done!

The biggest way to increase your energy levels and decrease your overwhelm is do a workout!

You might think that a workout will tire you out. If you do a stretch and strength workout you’ll feel energized once you’re done. It will energize you for the rest of the day.

Besides giving you more energy (and who doesn’t need that?!) it will decrease your stress and overwhelm even though the chaos around you remain the same.

If you have littles and don’t know when to squeeze in a 15-minute stretch? Do it with them crawling around you.

 

2. It’s OK When Things are NOT. ALL. DONE!

 

I do my morning routine each day because I get a dopamine rush whenever I cross something off.

But nothing makes me more frustrated than when I DON’T get things done.

Isn’t that what happens every day?

There were mornings when I walked out of my bedroom at 6 am or earlier and my kids were already having issues. That peaceful Quiet Time feeling quickly left as tension-filled my veins.

What an opportunity to allow sin to enter my heart!

When you feel frustration and maybe even anger coming on because of something your child has done, Jesus has the solution! Especially when you meet up with Jesus as you start each day.

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:13

 

You probably will be interrupted over and over each day. You might get NOTHING done.

Take a moment and escape into the bathroom for a good cry. It’s alright to cry!

Most of all, turn to Jesus and do not be anxious about anything.

Tell Him EVERYTHING in prayer and supplication and don’t forget to be thankful for all that He has done in your life.

Make requests to Jesus about your kids and your hubby. Jesus cares infinitely more than your closest friend ever will.

Jesus wants more than anything to be there for you as you face your day.

And about all that you is on your list?

If you are being the best mom ever, it won’t all get done. I promise.

You’ll find out by the end of the day what wasn’t important for that day because it didn’t get done!

 

3. Getting Enough Sleep Helps Avoids a Meltdown!

 

I learned the hard way. After years and years of burning the candle at both ends, I am learning how much sleep I should be getting.

I did it all wrong while my kids were growing up because I gave them a bedtime but never gave one to ME!

I would get between 4-6 hours of sleep every night. No wonder I often fell asleep on the sofa correcting their schoolwork!

Getting enough sleep is nearly impossible. You ought to know that.

But if I was to do it all over again, I would give myself a bedtime and get a little more sleep. The biggest culprit for having a mommy meltdown starts with lack of sleep!

Yes, hormones can be raging and out-of-whack and headaches and emotions can play a huge part.

But how many times did I react to a situation in the wrong spirit because I was a totally spent and exhausted mommy? There were times when I collapsed in a ragged pile on the floor crying my eyes out. The situation feels so much better in the morning after a good night’s sleep!

 

4. Getting Balance with Your Phone!

 

I am thankful that a smartphone was unthinkable when I was raising my kids. The internet could be enough of a distraction.

The phone is so small and portable and works even down by a river on a hike with your kids. You even carry your virtual friends in your back pocket and can connect with them faster than you would think to connect with God.

Your phone is amazing and mine is sitting near me. Even if I disconnect my social outlets and walk away from my laptop, my phone is in my hip.

How many times do you get distracted from the little people or your husband to check your phone notifications or talk with a friend you never met in real life?

Is the chaos in your life because you are distracted by your phone?

Can you find balance? Can you set boundaries for you and your phone?

When you are feeling the terrible tension of a mommy meltdown coming on, reach out to Jesus before reaching in your pocket for your phone.

Getting balance with your phone will help you meet with Jesus first and help slow the overwhelm and calm your mommy meltdown.

 

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

 

5. Getting Out with Your Kids!

 

A mommy meltdown can mean different things depending on your personality. Or even where you’re at in your cycle.

When you’re overwhelmed, escape to the bathroom for a moment and have a private mommy meltdown.

It’s better to get alone for five minutes and regroup with Jesus than keep stressing until the valve explodes and the steam spews out like an Insta Pot!

 

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27

 

You can always go back and ask forgiveness. Nothing rebuilds relationships better than a sincere apology.

The point is that when you feel a meltdown coming on, why not take your kids for an outing?

Nothing is better than getting outside and going for a walk or to a park.

I used to make a list of places to go with my kids during the summer.

Taking them for a walk around the neighborhood and collecting wildflowers or walking down through the woods along the river would change everyone’s mood.

Getting out with your kids changes the environment and gets those endorphins moving in the right direction.

 

6. How To Avoid A Mommy Meltdown!

 

There are some surefire ways to avoid a mommy meltdown and hopefully before you spiral down into one.

A Mommy meltdown has symptoms:

 

• Ranting and yelling at your kids!
• Hiding in the bathroom or pantry and eating chocolate chips!
• Believing lies that you’re entitled to uncontrolled emotions!

 

Ways to avoid or stop a meltdown in its tracks:

 

• Calmly talking to Jesus about the issue!
• Spending 5 minutes in the bathroom with your Bible! (no chocolate to fuel your plummeting emotions)
• FOCUS on the truth! (your children are precious gifts even if they are not acting like it at the moment)
• Change the chaos into calm by reading aloud to your children! (cuddling together on the sofa with a good book can turn your own meltdown around)
• Working through your emotions! (read psalms or a good solid parenting book)
• Go have a healthy good cry! (it’s ok to cry because it balances your emotions)
• Ask your kids to forgive you! (did you yell at them? Did you respond in the wrong spirit?)

 

Believe it or not, doing these things can turn a meltdown around before it turns into a ‘feeling-sorry-for-yourself session.

When we allow the Lord Jesus to be in control, your overwhelm dissipates and you don’t end up in a meltdown puddle!

Do you struggle thinking ‘YOU’RE NOT ENOUGH?

Grace-Filled Living is my ONLINE COURSE and will be your complete solution!!