The Overcommitted Mom: Why You’re Doing Too Much (and How to Stop)
“I Can Handle It All”… Until You Can’t
You’re the one who remembers the dentist appointments, the school projects, the birthday gifts, the meal plans. The one who picks up the slack when things fall apart. You say yes because if you don’t, who will?
Until one day, you wake up exhausted. Resentful. Wondering how you became the one who carries everything.
Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse. For moms, it often looks like irritation, mental fog, and a never-ending feeling of should. I should be able to handle this. I should be grateful. I should do more.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. But you don’t have to keep living like this.
Why Moms Are Stuck in the Overcommitment Trap
Most moms I work with don’t realize they’re burned out until they’re deep in it…. when exhaustion becomes the norm, patience runs thin, and joy feels like something other people have time for.
Why does this happen?
You were conditioned to believe “good moms” do it all – Whether it was watching your own mom struggle or absorbing the messages from social media, somewhere along the way, you learned that doing everything equals being a good mom.
You think saying NO makes you selfish – You take on the extra tasks, volunteer for the school event, and say yes even when your schedule is maxed out because disappointing others feels worse than exhausting yourself.
You don’t even know what you need anymore – When was the last time you paused to ask yourself, “What do I actually want?” Not what your kids, your partner, or society expects you to need or want.
The Mom Who Couldn’t Say No
Sarah, a mom of three, came to me feeling completely drained. She worked part-time, managed the household, and said yes to everything - volunteering at school, making homemade treats for every event, hosting family get-togethers. She felt like she had to make homemade treats and sourdough or she would be a “bad” mom and it would be a sign of not caring for her children.
Her calendar was full, but her cup was empty. She snapped at her kids constantly, felt disconnected from her partner, and had no time for herself. She was reluctant to even attend sessions because… where was the time?, who would watch the kids?, money spent on sessions would be better spent on her kids…..
After our consultation call, she knew she wanted to do the work even though she felt selfish and worried about the money. The voice of reasoning told her that if she did not invest in herself now that it would cost her more in the long run not only financially but mentally, physically and emotionally.
Through NLP and subconscious reprogramming, we uncovered the real fear behind her overcommitment:
✨ She believed that saying NO meant she wasn’t a good mom.
Once we shifted that belief, everything changed. She learned to:
Say no without guilt
Set boundaries that actually stuck
Create space for herself without feeling like she was failing her family
Six months later, she’s calmer, grounded and centered, more present with her kids, and finally feels like she’s running her life …. not the other way around.
The Single Mom Who Lost Herself
Jessica, a single mom of two, didn’t realize she was burned out - she just thought this was how life was supposed to feel. She worked full-time, managed everything at home, and always put herself last.
The turning point? Her best friend asked her, “When was the last time you did something just for you?” And she had no answer.
Through coaching, we rebuilt her sense of self - not just as a mom, but as a person. Using hypnosis and boundary-setting strategies, she:
Let go of the guilt that told her she had to do it all alone
Carved out time for herself without feeling like she was neglecting her kids
Reconnected with what made her happy - beyond motherhood
Now? She’s thriving. And most importantly, she’s teaching her kids that taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of others.
Three Strategies to Break the Burnout Cycle Today
If you’re tired of feeling stretched too thin, here’s where to start:
Identify Your Default “Yes” Moments
Notice when you’re about to say yes automatically - whether it’s an extra task at work, another playdate, or a favor for a friend.
Before responding, ask:
Do I actually have the capacity for this?
Will this add to my stress or my joy?
Am I saying yes because I want to or because I feel obligated?
Here is an extra tool and roadmap to help you make the decision to say YES or NO. DO I GO TO THE EVENT ROADMAP!?!
Reframe What It Means to Be a “Good Mom”
Being a great mom doesn’t mean doing everything. It means being present. And you can’t be present when you’re running on empty.
Instead of measuring success by how much you get done, try this:
In what ways did I connect with my kids today?
How did I take care of myself today?
How did I model healthy boundaries today?
Your kids don’t need a perfect mom. They need a healthy, happy one.
Train Your Nervous System to Feel Safe Slowing Down
If rest makes you feel restless, that’s not a personal failing - that’s a nervous system stuck in overdrive.
Simple ways to shift out of survival mode:
✨ Deep breathing exercises – Try inhaling for four counts, holding for four, and exhaling for six.
✨ Progressive relaxation – Scan your body and actively relax any tension.
✨ Hypnosis or guided meditation – This helps rewire your subconscious mind to release guilt around rest. Here is a free 7-minute meditation to help let go of stress. The Stress Reset: Anchor Into Peace & Upgrade Your Mind
Burnout isn’t just about overwork - it’s about feeling stuck in chronic stress. Training your body to feel safe relaxing is key to lasting change.
Why Coaching with a Therapist Works
Most advice for burned-out moms is surface-level: Get more sleep! Take a bath! Ask for help!
But if it were that simple, you wouldn’t still feel this way.
The real reason you’re stuck? Your subconscious beliefs are keeping you there.
That’s why coaching with a therapist is different. Using NLP, hypnosis, and evidence-based therapeutic strategies, we go deeper than just time management. We rewrite the patterns and beliefs that drive your burnout, so you can:
Say no without guilt
Set boundaries that actually stick
Prioritize yourself without feeling selfish
You don’t need another productivity hack ….. you need a new way of operating.
You Deserve More Than Just Survival
If this resonated, it’s time to take action. I work with moms who are ready to reclaim their energy, break free from burnout, and create a life that actually feels good again.
Through 1:1 coaching, NLP, and hypnosis, we’ll shift the patterns keeping you stuck and build a strategy that actually works for you. Because motherhood shouldn’t mean losing yourself.
Book a free consultation today and take the first step toward a healthier, more sustainable way of living.
Click here to book your session
*** all names have been changed to keep the privacy of the client. Anyone mentioned gave consent to have their story used as an example. Keywords: mom burnout, overcommitment, work-life balance for moms, saying no, breaking the supermom myth