457: Three Ways to Recover from Mom Burnout

457: Three Ways to Recover from Mom Burnout

Author: Cloud10 November 24, 2025 Duration: 33:58
You know that feeling when you're completely tapped out—when you can't give one more ounce of yourself to anyone, including you? That's not just exhaustion. That's burnout. And it doesn't mean you're failing at motherhood. This week is Thanksgiving 🦃, and for many of us, that means facing all the "lions"—family dynamics, cooking timelines, travel stress, and that never-ending holiday mental load. But here's the thing: your body doesn't know the difference between being chased by a lion and planning Thanksgiving dinner. And that matters more than you think. When I was a mom of young kids, I was deep in burnout—new baby who wouldn't stop crying, a husband working endless resident hours, and grief I hadn't processed from losing my own mom. I felt like the fire inside me had completely gone out. But I learned something powerful: recovering from burnout isn't about powering through or getting more sleep. It's about rekindling your fire in your body, your mind, and your spirit. In this encore episode (one of my all-time favorites), I'm sharing three science-backed strategies that helped me climb out of depletion mode—and that I still use today when I feel myself slipping. Even if you're not fully burned out right now, these tools will help you notice when you're heading in that direction and course-correct before you're running on empty. In this episode you'll learn: 🏃‍♀️ Why you hold onto every hard moment but forget the good ones by bedtime—and how to fix it 🧠 What Thanksgiving dinner planning and being chased by a lion have in common (spoiler: your nervous system can't tell the difference) 💓 The physical things your body needs to believe it's safe (because telling yourself to relax doesn't work!) Free worksheet! Download the Recovering from Mom Burnout worksheet with reflection prompts at 3in30podcast.com/recover For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Announcements: ✨ Slow-vember Reminder! Find calm in the chaos with our Flecks of Gold Journal—on sale now for $5 off through December 8 at 3in30podcast.com/flecks. A quick daily note of gratitude might just be the simplest soul-care practice you add this season. 💜 Related Episodes: 441: The 4 Types of Self-Care Every Mom Needs // Mia Hemstad 413: What to Do When You’re Juggling Too Much // Amy Wilson 398: How to Plan for an Energizing (not Exhausting) Holiday Season // Dr. Amber Price Episode Sponsors: AirDoctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code 3in30 to get up to $300 off today! It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a free 3-year warranty—an $84 value Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***

Motherhood often feels like a constant juggling act, leaving little time for lengthy advice or complicated strategies. That’s the exact gap that 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms fills. Each episode is built on a simple, powerful premise: delivering three practical, doable takeaways within a half-hour. Host Rachel Nielson, who brings her perspective as a mother, teacher, and writer, understands that a busy parent’s brain is already full. She curates conversations and shares insights that cut straight to what’s useful, focusing on real-world application over theory. You’ll hear discussions rooted in the daily realities of family life, covering everything from educational activities for kids and navigating family dynamics to personal well-being amidst the beautiful chaos. This isn’t about adding more to your to-do list, but about finding smarter, more peaceful ways to manage what’s already there. The tone is consistently encouraging, aiming to replace overwhelm with a sense of capability and even magic. Tuning into this podcast feels like a coffee chat with a knowledgeable friend who leaves you with clear, actionable steps-not just more noise. It’s a resource for any mom looking to gather concrete ideas for parenting, personal growth, and creating a more harmonious home, all within the span of a daily commute or a folded laundry pile.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms
Podcast Episodes
494: Voice Your Values // The Back-to-School Check-In for Moms #1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:40
It's back-to-school season, and our kids are about to be assessed on their reading, their math, and their writing. But what if we gave ourselves an assessment for how we're doing as moms? (And I don't mean a test involvi…
491: How to Change Someone's Life (Without Even Realizing It) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:55
With back-to-school season right around the corner, I keep thinking about a moment from my own high school years – a moment so small I barely registered it at the time. I noticed a kid sitting alone, stuck out my hand, a…
490: 3 Things to Remember When Parenting is Difficult [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:26
Lately, my kids have been watching a lot of TV. More than I'd like to admit. And for a while, I let myself spiral about it. What kind of mom lets her kids zone out on screens all day? What is that doing to them? But then…
489: How My Mom Helped Me Know Myself [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:37
Grief has been close to my family lately, and in the weeks since losing my brother-in-law Logan, I've found myself returning again and again to the memories that hold the people we love, long after they're no longer here…
488: A Letter to My Body (and Two Other Essays I Wrote in Recovery) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:42
I have been a writer my whole life. Long before this podcast existed, writing was how I made sense of my hardest seasons, how I figured out what I actually thought and felt, and how I slowly found my way through pain I d…
485: The Resentment that Moms Don't Talk About // JoAnn Crohn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:10
I have a friend named Laney who genuinely does not experience mom guilt. Not because she's a perfect mom, but because she's decided her kids are lucky to have her — and she means it! I used to laugh when she said things…