How to Stop Feeling So Tired as a Mom
Last updated on December 7th, 2025 at 05:52 pm
If you’re a mom, you’re no stranger to being tired. The days are long, the weeks are short, and you’re just trying to keep your head above water. Trust me when I say I get it. I wish there was a silver bullet for your exhaustion, but there isn’t really. But! There are some ways to start moving toward a more balanced life and start tackling your tired.
Set a schedule and stick to it as best you can
So, I hear you. There are things you can’t control. You can’t control if your kid wakes up at 3 am. You can’t control your work schedule. But there are some things that are within your control. Whether or not you sit up until 11 PM doomscrolling is in your control. Whether or not you follow a cozy routine to wind down for sleep, so you actually do sleep, is (usually) in your control.
So, try your best to stick to some sort of eight-hour sleep schedule. If you’re up at 5 AM, bed before 9 PM. Eight hours is the goal – even if you fall short some days.
I would also encourage some sort of routine that winds you down like I said. Something like a cup of tea, a bath, or getting into cozy pajamas. It’s also helpful to just put your phone away for an hour before bed. Whatever’s going to get you in a “sleep” mindset.
Get your kid to sleep in their own bed
Yep. Depending on your kid, this might feel impossible. They refuse to sleep in their own bed or room, and you’re at your wits’ end. But if you’ve given up, I would encourage you to make it an absolute priority. You might be extra tired for a week or two as they adjust, but having your bed back will definitely help you get more restful sleep. Even if you enjoy being able to sleep next to your kids, you’ll definitely get better and less broken sleep if you don’t, and that’s a good trade-off.
What works for this will depend on your kid’s age. If they’re old enough, you can have a conversation with them about what would make them feel safer sleeping in their own bed. Things like night lights, sound machines, and staying with them until they’re sleepy might be helpful. Creating a routine that gives them something fun or interesting in their own bedroom might be helpful too.
Make sure you’re getting proper nutrition
Seriously, if you’re not eating breakfast or you’re having sugar drops and spikes throughout the day, you’re going to feel tired regardless of how much sleep you got. Your goal is to have a steady flow of energy throughout the day. Which means food. Regularly. With a focus on what’s going to give you the most bang for your buck AKA nutrient-dense foods.
I’m not saying you can’t eat that doughnut. But I am saying you should pair it with some Greek yogurt and fruit. Focus on protein, fats, and fiber as best you can because that’s going to keep you fuller longer and help manage your blood sugar levels.
My best tip for making sure you’re eating throughout the day is to eat with your children. If you’re working, it’s different, but if you’re home with your kids in some capacity, eat your meals and snacks when they do. You worry so much about whether they’re eating the right things. It’s worth doing that for yourself.
Get movement in
I’m sure you know exercise is important, and you’re probably sick of people telling you that you need to do it. But unfortunately, this goes into being less tired too. When you get moving, it helps energize your body, and it can also help you sleep better at night.
Walking is one of the best forms of exercise, so if you’re not sure where to start, start there. Go for a walk with your kids, walk around a store and don’t buy anything, or buy a stepper so you can work while you do other things. I personally use a rebounder for my cardio, and it’s my absolute favorite thing.
I would highly recommend strength training 2-3 times a week too. It’s crucial for women to avoid osteoporosis later by building up their bone density with strength training. Work out next or with your kids if that’s a helpful way to build it into your schedule.
Prioritize sleep
If you’re struggling to stay awake and you have an hour, sleep. The laundry or the dishes will be easier to tackle if you’re actually functional. I think we have this idea that if we have extra time, we should be “productive,” but believe me when I tell you that sleep is productive. If the dishes need to get done, they can get done when the kiddos are awake or around. It might take more time, but you’ll be less grumpy, and they might have fun helping. When in doubt, sleep.
This might have all seemed obvious to you, but take this blog post as your sign that it’s time to take these things in stride. Exhaustion is the worst. Operating under little or bad sleep screws up absolutely everything else. So, sleep is the number one thing to fix, and this all goes into sleep. You’ve got this. I believe in you.
