Burnt Out? A Working Mom’s Guide to Letting Go of Constant Busyness
Somewhere along the way, “busy” became the new “fine.”
“How are you?”
“Oh, you know… busy!”
We toss that word around like a badge of honour, proof that we’re keeping up, doing it all, being productive, being enough. But here’s the truth: being busy doesn’t mean you’re thriving.
In an episode of the MOMents, I sat down with Elmarie Dercksen to unpack the madness of hustle culture and why it’s quietly burning us all out.
The Myth of “More”
Elmarie said something that hit me right between the eyes:
“We’ve convinced ourselves that rest is earned, not essential.”
We’ve built a society that glorifies exhaustion. We compete over who’s juggling more plates, who’s got the fuller calendar, who’s managing to do it all without dropping the ball. Especially as mothers, we’re told that the measure of our love is how much we sacrifice. But that’s not love, that’s martyrdom dressed up as dedication.
And let’s talk about what this “hustle high” costs us.
Our relationships. Our joy. Our peace.
Elmarie realised that constantly chasing productivity was disconnecting her from the people she loved most and from herself.
Sound familiar?
The Hidden Toll
Here’s the kicker: hustle culture doesn’t just make you tired. It rewires your brain.
It tells you that if you’re not producing, you’re falling behind. That saying “no” means you’re lazy. That accepting help means you’re weak.
We talk about finally giving ourselves permission to stop chasing perfection. Asking for help isn’t failure, it’s freedom.
And that’s exactly what this episode is about, flipping the script.
Reimagining Rest
What if rest wasn’t a reward but a rhythm?
What if slowing down wasn’t lazy but wise?
It starts small. Sitting in silence for five minutes before the day begins. Letting your kids be bored (seriously, boredom is where creativity is born). Turning off the phone during dinner.
We don’t need more hacks. We need more presence.
Here’s a downloadable checklist to stick on your fridge: Quick wins for the time-starved mom
Author Martha Beck says that “peace doesn’t come from doing more, but from being here, now.” And she’s right. The stillness you’ve been avoiding might be the very thing your body, your mind, and your family are craving.
Try This
Next time you see another mom and start the usual exchange:
“How have you been?”
“Oh, just busy!”
Try asking this instead:
What’s been good in your life lately?
Have you found any time to rest?
Because that’s how we start to change the narrative, one honest, unhurried conversation at a time.
Maybe the real flex isn’t how much you’re doing.
Maybe it’s how at peace you feel while doing it.