The Mental Load of Motherhood: How to Carry It Without Breaking

We don’t have to tell you that motherhood is a full-time job!

With no paid time off, no clocking out, and no HR department to file complaints. From remembering the pediatrician appointments to meal planning, from signing up for summer camp before the waitlist closes to making sure everyone has clean socks (why is it always the socks?), the mental load of being a mom is relentless.

And for must of us, we carry it all: the schedules, the logistics, the emotions, the unseen labor of keeping everything running smoothly. Yet, so many of us don’t talk about just how exhausting it is. We push through because we love our families.

But let’s be real: love doesn’t erase burnout.

So how do we handle it?

How do we carry the weight of motherhood without breaking under it?

1. Write It Down and Let It Go
The running list in your head? Get it out! Whether it’s a planner, an app, or the classic sticky-note method, writing things down frees up mental space.

And if something doesn’t get done today? That’s okay. Remember that you are a human being and perfection simply does not exist.

2. Delegate (Yes, Really!)
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking it’s just faster to do everything ourselves, but handing off tasks—whether to a partner, a co-parent, or even the kids—teaches responsibility and lightens your load. Even toddlers can “help” put away toys, and older kids can pack their own lunches. You don’t have to do it alone all the time and remember that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.

3. Make Space for You
You can’t pour from an empty cup, and yet we try. Taking time for yourself isn’t selfish..it’s survival! And if you’re in Long Beach, there are events designed to help moms like us reconnect with ourselves.

Long Beach Moms hosts events like Sex in the LBC, an empowering, fun night out where women can talk candidly about intimacy and relationships in a judgment-free zone. Or if you need deep relaxation, there’s A Day of Connection, Healing and Transformative Art at Compound, where you can let go of stress, soak in good energy, and actually feel present in your own body for once. Prioritizing yourself is what helps you prioritize others.

 4. Find Your People
Motherhood can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether it’s a mom group like Long Beach Moms, a local book club, or just a solid friend who just gets it, having a support system makes a world of difference. Millions of women are mothers, and the trials you are experiencing, the stress, and the balancing act are also being experienced by other mothers. Let’s start talking to each other and getting real about the mental load of being a mother.

5. Be Kind to Yourself
Some days, everything runs smoothly. Other days, it’s chaos. Give yourself grace. If you don’t use any of the previous tips, we hope you use this one. You are doing enough. You are enough.

At the end of the day, the mental load won’t disappear. But we can find ways to carry it differently, to shift some weight, to lighten the burden, to remind ourselves that we’re not alone in this.

Because, mama, you are seen.

You are supported.

And you deserve to feel whole, too.