Being a single mom isn’t for the faint of heart—even when your kids aren’t little anymore. Teenagers let me tell ya, come with their own kind of chaos. I know I was naive thinking that toddlers were the hardest and if I could just survive that stage, I would be ok. I was very wrong. The reality is that the emotional and mental load just shifts.
Being a single mom is a full-time, round-the-clock, emotionally intense job. When you’re the only adult in the house, there’s no one else to take over when you’re running on fumes. It’s no wonder you’re feeling completely worn out.
If you’re here, you’re probably running on empty or dangerously close to empty. You love your kids, of course, but between school schedules, emotional mood swings, late-night talks (or fights), and everything else life throws at you—it’s a lot. And let’s not forget trying to manage your own career, home, and maybe (just maybe) squeeze in five minutes of peace.
Welcome to what many of us call single mom burnout—a very real, very exhausting state of physical and emotional depletion that too often gets brushed aside or buried under daily responsibilities. People don’t seem to understand unless they’ve been there too.
Are you suffering mom burnout?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Why am I always so tired, even after sleeping?
- Why do I feel emotionally drained all the time?
- Why do small things suddenly feel like too much?
If that sounds familiar, you’re far from alone—and more importantly, you’re not failing. You’re just burnt out. This post is here to help you recognize the signs of single mom burnout, understand what makes it so common for moms, and give you real, practical strategies to recover, recharge, and reconnect with yourself again.
So, let’s talk honestly about single mom burnout, what it looks like, and most importantly—how to survive it. Because you deserve more than just survival mode.
What Is Single Mom Burnout?
Single mom burnout is more than just being tired. It’s a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by chronic stress and the non-stop demands of solo parenting.
Signs you might be dealing with burnout:
- Constant fatigue, even after sleep
- Feeling emotionally detached or numb
- Irritability or frequent mood swings
- Lack of motivation or interest in things you once enjoyed
- Brain fog or forgetfulness
- Feeling like you’re always “on” and never enough
Sound familiar? I’ve been there too. Burnout doesn’t make you a bad mom—it means you’ve been doing too much, for too long, without enough support.
Why Burnout Hits Moms of Older Kids Differently
When your kids are little, the exhaustion is mostly physical—late nights, early mornings, diapers, tantrums. But with older kids and teenagers, the stress shifts to emotional and mental strain.
You’re dealing with:
- Academic pressure and school issues
- Peer drama and social media influences
- Hormones and attitude
- Bigger questions about boundaries, curfews, and trust
- Prepping them for independence
You’re trying to be their emotional anchor while keeping your own head above water. It’s no wonder so many moms hit a wall.
7 Real-World Tips to Survive (and Recover From) Single Mom Burnout
1. Let Go of the Supermom Myth
You can’t do it all—and honestly, no one should expect you to. The idea of being a “supermom” who handles everything with a smile, keeps a spotless home, works a full-time job, raises respectful kids, and still finds time for homemade dinners and organized closets? It’s a fantasy—and a harmful one at that.
Here’s the truth: you are not failing just because you’re tired or because something had to give this week. You are human. You’re doing your best with the time, energy, and resources you have. And that is more than enough.
Start by letting go of the pressure to be perfect. Dinner doesn’t need to be from scratch every night (hello, frozen pizza!). Your teen can do their own laundry or pack their own lunch. The dishes can sit in the sink if it means you get 20 minutes of rest.
Real strength as a single mom doesn’t come from doing it all—it comes from knowing what to let go of, and choosing sanity over perfection.
2. Build Micro-Moments of Self-Care
When you’re dealing with single mom burnout, the idea of self-care can feel laughable—who has time for bubble baths or weekend getaways when the house is a mess and your kid needs a science project tomorrow?
But self-care isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about the small, doable things that help you reconnect with yourself throughout the day. Think of them as “micro-moments”—tiny breaks that give your mind and body a reset.
Here are a few ideas you can and should try:
- Sit down and drink your coffee slowly before anyone talks to you.
- Lock the bathroom door and breathe for five quiet minutes.
- Step outside and feel the sun on your face—even if it’s just walking to the mailbox.
- Put on your favorite playlist while cooking dinner.
- Text a friend just to say hi and remind yourself you’re not alone.
These moments may seem small, but over time, they help reduce stress and prevent burnout. You deserve care too—not just as a mom, but as a whole person.
3. Ask for Help—And Accept It
This one’s hard, especially when you’ve been flying solo for so long that asking for help feels like admitting defeat. But it’s not. Asking for help is not weakness—it’s wisdom. No one is meant to do everything on their own, and trying to do so only speeds up burnout.
In retrospect—when someone offers to help, let them. Say yes. Don’t brush it off with “I’m fine.” You don’t need to prove anything. The truth is, allowing others to support you lightens your load and shows your kids that it’s okay to rely on a community.
Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is simply raise your hand and say, “I could use a little help right now.”
4. Set Boundaries (Even With Your Kids)
You love your kids to the moon and back, but love doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. In fact, one of the best ways to fight single mom burnout is to get clear on your boundaries—especially with older kids who are starting to push limits and test independence.
Boundaries might look like:
- Letting your teenagers know you won’t respond to non-emergencies after 9pm.
- Setting a “quiet hour” every evening where everyone does their own thing.
- Saying no to last-minute requests that throw off your schedule.
- Requiring them to contribute—whether it’s dishes, laundry, or dinner one night a week.
Boundaries are not about being strict—they’re about protecting your energy, time, and peace. When you teach your kids to respect your needs, you’re not only giving yourself breathing room—you’re modeling healthy habits they can carry into adulthood.
And don’t forget: boundaries aren’t just for them. They’re for you, too. Give yourself permission to pause, say no, and protect your peace.
5. Connect With Other Moms Who Get It
Isolation is one of the most common fuel sources for single mom burnout. When you’re the only adult in the house, everything falls on your shoulders—and it can feel like no one else really understands what you’re going through. That loneliness only adds to the stress.
But here’s the good news: you are not alone, even if it feels like it. Somewhere out there is a mom who feels just like you—overwhelmed, exhausted, and wondering if she’s doing any of it right.
Seek out spaces where you can talk freely and be heard. This could be:
- A local support group for single moms
- A Facebook group or online community
- A trusted friend who listens without judgment
- A church group, parenting meetup, or mom podcast you love
Sometimes just hearing “me too” is enough to remind you that you’re not crazy, weak, or failing. And even a short conversation with someone who gets it can lift some of that emotional weight.
Community doesn’t have to be big or perfect. Even one mom-friend who understands can make all the difference.
6. Address the Mental Load
You know that invisible checklist constantly running in the back of your mind? That’s the mental load—and it’s exhausting. As a single mom, you’re often the only one tracking everything from school events and doctor’s appointments to what groceries are running low and which bills are due next week.
That nonstop brainwork wears you down, fast.
To lighten the load:
- Write it down. Use a planner, app, or simple notebook to get it out of your head.
- Share responsibilities with your kids. Older kids are fully capable of helping manage their own tasks—reminders, lunches, schedules, etc.
- Use reminders and automations wherever possible. Set up recurring tasks for bills or use a shared calendar with your kids.
You don’t have to remember everything to be a good mom. Offloading some of your mental load gives your brain the breathing room it needs—and helps prevent burnout from taking over.
7. Give Yourself Grace
At the end of the day, the most important thing you can do to recover from single mom burnout is this: be gentle with yourself. You’re carrying a lot, doing your best, and showing up—even on the days when you feel like you have nothing left to give.
You won’t always get it right. You’ll lose your temper, miss a deadline, forget an appointment, or order takeout three nights in a row. Guess what? You’re still a good mom.
Grace looks like:
- Forgiving yourself for not being perfect
- Letting go of guilt over things you can’t control
- Celebrating the little wins (even if it’s just getting through the day)
Some seasons are about thriving, and others are just about surviving. If you’re in survival mode, that’s okay. Be proud of yourself for showing up anyway. You don’t have to do it all, fix it all, or be it all. You just have to keep going—and give yourself the kindness you so freely give to others.
When to Seek Extra Help
If single mom burnout is affecting your daily life, don’t wait. Talk to a therapist, counselor, or your doctor. There’s no shame in needing support—mental health care is just as important as physical care.
Final Thoughts: You Are Not Alone
Here’s the truth: You were never meant to do this alone. Being a single mom, especially to older kids, comes with unique challenges that most people simply don’t understand. The emotional labor, the late-night worries, the constant balancing act of discipline and connection—it’s a lot. And if you’re feeling stretched too thin, that doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’ve been strong for too long without a break.
Single mom burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It builds slowly—one missed shower, one skipped meal, one late-night breakdown at a time. But the good news? Recovery doesn’t have to happen overnight either. Start small. Pick one tip from this list. Give yourself permission to do less. Set one new boundary. Accept help without guilt. Be kind to yourself in the process.
And most of all—remember that this is a season. A tough one, yes, but not forever. Your teenagers will grow, and so will you. There will come a time when the pressure eases, and you’ll look back and realize: You didn’t just survive—you grew stronger, smarter, and more compassionate than ever before.
So if no one has told you lately—you’re doing an incredible job. You’re showing up, every day, for your family and for yourself. And that matters more than you know.
Take a breath. Take a break. And take heart—because you are not alone in this.
If this post helped, share it with another single mom who might be feeling the same way. Let’s lift each other up. 💛
Always,
Kerri
