3 Faith-Filled Tips for the Exhausted Mom

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From one exhausted mom to another, let’s explore some faith-filled tips for the exhausted mom while we keep our eyes fixed on our Savior, Jesus.

Dear tired mama,

I see you.

I am you.

As a mom with a full-time job (between two main jobs), and a freshly postpartum mom of five young children (yes, we just welcomed our fifth baby boy four weeks ago!), I’ve experienced firsthand the sleepless nights, mental health battles, and daily struggles that come with trying to do it all.

You may not be in the same season of life I am in. Maybe you only have one child, or maybe you have 10 and they are all grown and out of the nest. Regardless, my guess in this day and age, your capacity (like mine) is full.

I recently received a heartfelt message from a YouTube subscriber who basically asked, “How do you have the energy to stay on top of things?” I looked at that message and thought, “I don’t”. She went on to explain that she was pregnant with her fourth and felt like she was dealing with ‘laziness’. She felt like she couldn’t keep up with the household, homeschooling, being a wife, etc. The message went on to say that she was hoping I could make a YouTube video on the subject of having enough energy to stay on top of things.

So, let’s assume that if you’ve landed on this page or the accompanying YouTube video, you are experiencing the all-too-familiar exhaustion that comes from the pressure of being a mom. How do we have the energy as moms and caregivers to stay on top of it all?

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This week, I threw out rotten eggs from our chicken coop to our pigs. The smell was horrendous, and it easily could have been avoided. But I simply haven’t had enough energy to stay on top of the egg collection.

This week, my dog ran away into our swamp area because I was nursing the baby, and the boys left the porch door open. I could have gotten up and called her in, but I simply didn’t have enough energy to go through the process of getting the baby readjusted to nursing once again. By the time we found her, she had rolled in something dead, and it again smelled horrendous.

I could go on from blunders at work to blunders in the garden and to moments I failed as a wife and mom.

Truthfully? I don’t have enough energy. The truth is that a lot of my striving comes from pure stubbornness and a lifetime sin struggle with attaching my worth to how much I can get done.

I saw a statistic recently, but I don’t have a source to back it up, that moms with children under the age of 7 get less than one hour of personal time a day. But I’ve learned that the only way I make it through a single day, especially during this survival mode season, is by leaning fully on Christ and adjusting my expectations.

So if you are a mom who is wondering how to have enough energy, here’s some good news. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to do this in your own strength.

Tips for the Exhausted Mom

Here are three faith-filled tips that have helped this tired mom keep going. These three tips are going to be the ‘heart tips’. I’ll be addressing some more practical tips later one.

1. It’s Not About You

Remember when I said that I have a lifetime sin struggle of attaching my worth to how much I get done? It took me years to figure out that little puzzle piece of my heart

The first and best thing to remember, especially in the midst of exhaustion, is that this life isn’t about you. You are not the main character. Yikes. That’s a bit counter-cultural even for Christian circles. Everything we do is for the glory of God, or at least that is how it should work.

This may not seem like an energy tip, but it’s a soul-saving mindset shift. When I remember that my striving in the end really is not the point, it gives me the mindset shift to make better choices. When I’m at the end of my energy, I can pray, “God, I’m at my end. What would bring you glory in this moment?” Sometimes, it might be finishing the project I started. Sometimes it might be sitting down in the middle of the mess of the house and holding my child. Sometimes, it might be struggling through the homeschool lesson. Sometimes it might be putting away the curriculum.

We weren’t created to be superhuman. The human body isn’t designed to run on stress and survival mode. We were made to worship. When I start to think my identity lies in a checked-off to-do list, a clean house, or how many household chores I’ve done before 10 a.m., I’ve forgotten who I am.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

At the end of the day, God isn’t asking us to have it all together—He’s asking us to draw near to Him.

2. Lower Your Expectations

Oh, mama, this one is tough. But the first step to healing from mom fatigue and that heavy mental load is learning to release unrealistic expectations.

We live in a world of curated social media feeds, Pinterest-worthy routines, and pressure to be the mom who does it all—organic meals, no screen time, perfect morning routine, and all the bedtime stories. When I think about that list, there is not one of them that I accomplished yesterday. Not even one.

Here’s the truth: having high standards during many motherhood transitions, like pregnancy and postpartum, is not realistic. Remember the email I got from Emily? Emily, as you are pregnant with your third and I’m postpartum with my fifth, I’d like to remind both of us that this is not the best time for perfection—it’s the best time for grace.

On the days when I feel ‘lazy’, it’s probably not as much laziness, but rather God’s gentle way of telling our body and mind that it’s time for rest.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

Your rest is not found in having a clean kitchen before bed or finishing every task on your to-do list. It’s found in Christ. Your quiet time may look like a whispered prayer while rocking a baby. That’s enough.

This week, my husband went back to work. There are some really good things about that happening and some challenging parts. I tend to be a fairly independent lady, so there’s some mental ease that comes from being the only adult in the home.

However, with five children, three of them two years old and under, and two of them not even walking, plus working from home, homeschooling, and the added complication of homesteading with animals, I found myself at my end. There were two days in particular this week when I realized that my only priorities on that day were to keep everyone alive and fed. That was it. Nothing else. And as hard as it was for me to accept, that is and was okay.

Lowering our expectations when we lack energy is not only a wise thing, but often a necessary thing!

3. Be Satisfied with the Little Things That Were Managed

I know it’s easy to look around and see everything that didn’t get done. The dishes. The laundry. The text you forgot to reply to. The family member you meant to check in on. The devotional you never opened.

But what if we flipped the script?

What if we praised God for the little bit we managed today?

You made your toddler laugh. You kissed your baby’s soft head. You offered your older kids grace when you wanted to yell. You sat outside in the natural light for five minutes and breathed deeply. These moments are holy.

“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.” — Proverbs 15:16 (ESV)

Small moments matter in God’s economy.

It’s not about how much time you spend doing “productive” things—it’s about the spirit you do them in. That’s what cultivates a happy, Christ-centered family life.

Practical Tips for the Worn-Out Mom

Now that we’ve covered the heart-level stuff, here are a few practical energy boosts that help me stay grounded and functioning during this season of low energy and mom burnout. And remember, we all go through these moments and we’re not alone.

1. Take Care of Your Body

I know this sounds obvious, but when you’re a tired mama running on fumes, your basic needs can fall to the bottom of the list. You’re not imagining the lack of energy—it’s real. Sleep deprivation, low iron levels, hormone shifts, and unbalanced diets can all be contributing factors.

I am not good at this. My midwife was checking in on me two weeks ago, and she said, “Rachael, you are one of the ones I worry about because you keep pushing and don’t slow down.” Her comment didn’t shock me at all, but I was discouraged because I really thought I was doing better this time around. Turns out that my body is in such burnout from so many years of pushing, that even ‘better’ at this point isn’t good enough.

Even so, the practical things I’m aiming for and that can be helpful for anyone are:

• Enough sleep
• Enough water
• Movement
• Supplements
• Balanced meals

Of course, this isn’t medical advice, so seek out a professional.

However, here are some supplements and items I’m using to support my body and energy currently:
– Milk Moon Postpartum Tonic
– Redmond Real Electrolytes – code HEALINGHOME gets your 15% off!
–Pink Stork Postpartum Mood Support
–Mary Ruth’s Liquid Vitamin

2. Use a Homemaker Planner

This might sound like a small thing, but my homemaking planner keeps me sane. With so many young children and a busy schedule, my brain can’t hold it all. I write down first things—the priorities for the next day—and let go of what doesn’t matter. I also love the simple meal planning pages, which give me seasonal recipe ideas that I can rotate without actually planning!

It’s not about having a perfect to-do list—it’s about freeing up mental space so I can focus on quality time with my kids and enjoy the good things God is doing, even in the mess.

3. Stick to a Kids’ Routine

Your routine doesn’t have to be rigid, but structure is a treatment option for chaos. When my big kids know what to expect, and I don’t have to answer “what’s next?” every five minutes, we all do better.

Routines help regulate the circadian rhythm, improve sleep quality, and reduce the mental load on everyone. That means fewer meltdowns (for them and for me), and a smoother path through daily life.

So yes, I do have a routine for my kids, but it’s also very flexible. We anchor our day with our chore chart in the morning and our homeschool routine. This summer, we are focusing on a more flexible homeschool routine, which consists of a morning basket. However, I find that keeping that routine each day that we are home is a big part of keeping everyone feeling secure, which leads to less of a chaotic home. Then we have consistent meal and snack times, which also help to anchor their day. Of course, there is also an evening routine, but with our new baby, that is currently in flux.

Final Thoughts for the Tired Mom

Dear Mama, whether you’re battling postpartum depression, juggling night shifts, or just feeling like a tired mom who doesn’t have enough energy to stay on top of it all, you are seen by God. Finding his presence when we feel a lack of energy is the single best way to regain our energy and purpose.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” — Psalm 16:11 (ESV)

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t even have to be productive. You just need to be present with the Lord and with your children.

Let His Word anchor you in this difficult season. Surround yourself with other moms, lean into community, and give yourself grace.

One single day at a time.

You are doing great things—even if they feel small. Keep going.