The Parental Burnout Coach

🌞 Taking a proper break this summer 🌞

After a busy first half of 2025, I’m stepping away from social media for the school summer holidays to fully embrace two of my self-penned ‘Rachel’s Rules’: "have a break planned" and "enjoy the present - be don't do".

When I experienced burnout in 2022, I learnt these rules the hard way. Now, as The Parental Burnout Coach, I need to practise what I preach! My boys are off school for six weeks, and I want to be completely present with them, and with myself, without the pull of notifications and the pressure to create content.

Some might say it’s career su***de for a small business to disappear from social platforms for six weeks, but I believe showing up authentically means knowing when to step back. Real rest isn’t just switching off your laptop at 5pm, it’s giving yourself permission to truly disconnect.

I’ll be back refreshed and ready to support more parents, and businesses in September. In the meantime, if you need to reach me, I’m still checking emails at [email protected].

Here’s to a summer of ice creams, muddy puddles (we are in Britain after all!), and being properly present. See you in September!

Do you regularly find yourself feeling exhausted, wound up and on edge, even after you’ve tackled that demanding work project or finally got the children settled?

You’re not going mad – you might simply have an incomplete stress cycle.

Understanding the difference between stressors and stress is crucial for working parents in addressing potential burnout.

A stressor is the thing that causes your stress – whether it’s external like a crying baby, looming deadline, sick parent, sitting in traffic, or an internal feeling like your own assumptions, expectations, fears, or anger.

Stress, however, is your body’s physical and emotional response to that situation. It’s the racing heart, tense shoulders, and that feeling of being constantly “switched on” – your body’s ancient fight, flight, or freeze response activated by modern-day challenges.

Here’s what many of us don’t realise: removing the stressor doesn’t automatically switch off the stress response. Your body might still be stuck in fight-or-flight mode long after the crisis has passed. This happens because we haven’t completed what researchers call the “stress cycle.”

Read this article full of stress reducing tips here https://www.careeringintomotherhood.com/complete-your-stress-cycle-rachel-stern/

Do you regularly find yourself feeling exhausted, wound up and on edge, even after you’ve tackled that demanding work project or finally got the children settled?

You’re not going mad – you might simply have an incomplete stress cycle.

Understanding the difference between stressors and stress is crucial for working parents in addressing potential burnout.

A stressor is the thing that causes your stress – whether it’s external like a crying baby, looming deadline, sick parent, sitting in traffic, or an internal feeling like your own assumptions, expectations, fears, or anger.

Stress, however, is your body’s physical and emotional response to that situation. It’s the racing heart, tense shoulders, and that feeling of being constantly “switched on” – your body’s ancient fight, flight, or freeze response activated by modern-day challenges.

Here’s what many of us don’t realise: removing the stressor doesn’t automatically switch off the stress response. Your body might still be stuck in fight-or-flight mode long after the crisis has passed. This happens because we haven’t completed what researchers call the “stress cycle.”

Find out all about what you can do to address and minimise the impact of stress in this brilliant post today by Rachel Stern, The Parental Burnout Coach , and see our website for the free article.

🌸 Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week 🌸

Back in 2021, I had never heard of the term ‘Parental Burnout’. But the following year, as my mental health took a downward turn, I came across the work of Isabelle Roskam and Moïra Mikolajczak and instantly recognized so many of the characteristics of Parental Burnout in what I was experiencing. 💪

Parental burnout is one of a number of mental health challenges mums can face. It's characterized by:

1️⃣ Overwhelming exhaustion in the parenting role that sleep can't fix.
2️⃣ Emotional distancing from your children.
3️⃣ Loss of accomplishment and enjoyment in parenting.
4️⃣ A sense of feeling disconnected from the parent you used to be.

Unlike workplace burnout, parenting is a 24/7 role with no escape routes.

Recognizing the signs early is vital. Experiencing parental burnout doesn't make you a bad parent. It often affects the most dedicated ones. 🌟

This maternal mental health awareness week, I want to focus on raising awareness of Parental Burnout. If you're feeling the weight of Parental Burnout, know that you're not alone. With the right support and strategies, recovery is possible. 🤗

Today, I'm honoured to share my personal story about Parental Burnout in The Guardian weekly magazine.

As a mother of two, I experienced firsthand how chronic parental stress can escalate beyond typical daily challenges into something more serious.

Having since completed my diploma to become a certified coach, and trained with the The Institute for Parental Burnout and I am deeply passionate about raising awareness and providing the necessary tools to prevent and treat Parental Burnout.

This isn't just about sharing my story - it's about opening a crucial conversation about parent mental health and wellbeing. When we recognise and name what we're experiencing, we can better access the support we need.

The pain of parental burnout: ‘I didn’t want to spend time with my children. I was just going through the motions’ Most people with small children are worn out – but for some, the pressure of striving to be perfect parents can drive them to the edge

✨ Last Friday I managed a rare night out with my sister and attended a How to Academy interview with the author Oliver Burkeman. There were some powerful takeaways including:

That messy house when you're juggling kids and work? It's not a sign you're failing - it's proof you're human. 🏠✨

Sitting there listening to Oliver chat with Pandora Sykes about his books Meditation for Mortals and Four Thousand Weeks, I felt this in my bones both from personal experience as a working parent of two boys and from the parents I work with who are exhausted from trying to do it all.

But here's the truth:

Your worth isn't measured by your to-do list ✅

Your house doesn't need to be Instagram-perfect 🏡

You don't have to have it all figured out 💫

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is lower our expectations and show ourselves some compassion 🤍

💭 Ready to let go of those impossible standards?

💭 Tired of feeling overwhelmed?

I’m Rachel, a Partner Coach specialising in supporting parents experiencing burnout and overwhelm.

Drop a ❤️ if this resonates, and DM me to chat about how we can work together to make peace with 'good enough.'

✨ At last Friday’s .to.academy interview with there were some powerful takeaways including:

That messy house when you’re juggling kids and work? It’s not a sign you’re failing - it’s proof you’re human. 🏠✨

Sitting there listening to Oliver chat with about his books including Four Thousand Weeks and Meditation for Mortals, I felt this in my bones. Every day I work with parents who are exhausted from trying to do it all.

But here’s the truth:

Your worth isn’t measured by your to-do list ✅

Your house doesn’t need to be Instagram-perfect 🏡

You don’t have to have it all figured out 💫

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is lower our expectations and show ourselves some compassion 🤍

💭 Ready to let go of those impossible standards?

💭 Tired of feeling overwhelmed?

Drop a ❤️ if this resonates, and DM me to chat about how we can work together to make peace with ‘good enough.’

✨ Plot twist: This life coach actually took her own advice! 😌

Taking a mindful pause this holiday season was exactly what I needed - and what I coach my clients to do, but sometimes forget to practice myself! Instead of my usual packed schedule, I chose presence over productivity. No rushing, no endless to-do lists - just quality time with family and genuine connections.

This intentional slowdown has been transformative, bringing me back to my coaching practice with renewed energy and deeper conviction in the power of “being” versus constantly “doing.”

Coming back to my first coaching session of 2025, my heart filled when my client shared that our coaching relationship a special place on her vision board. It reinforced why I do this work - supporting incredible individuals in showing up as their authentic selves and achieving meaningful change through accountability and partnership.

🤍 Ready to make 2025 your year of intentional living? Tap the link in my bio to book a discovery call.

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟

I'm thrilled to announce that I've completed specialist practitioner training in Parental Burnout from the Training Institute for Psychology & Health, led by experts Isabelle Roskam and Moïra Mikolajczak. 🎓✨

As someone who has personally experienced Parental Burnout, this journey has been deeply meaningful to me. My own challenges have fuelled my passion for raising awareness of Parental Burnout and supporting other parents in navigating their own paths. I'm eager to apply this new knowledge to help parents recognise the signs of burnout early and find balance and joy in their parenting journey.

What is Parental Burnout? Parental Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by the chronic stress of parenting. It can lead to feelings of detachment from children, a sense of ineffectiveness as a parent, and overwhelming fatigue.

Let's create a supportive community where parents can thrive! 💪❤️

🤰🏽 As a working mother of two, I’ve become passionate about advocating for better experiences for parents in the workforce.

🔬Back in 2021, I conducted research on behalf of Bloom UK into mothers’ experiences before, during, and after maternity leave, which informed the Great Return playbook on best practices (https://bit.ly/46SGkoX). One aspect explored in this work was Keep-In-Touch (KIT) days.

📖 In collaboration with Cathy Sansom, who completed a doctorate focused on this topic, I’m proud to have published an article exploring the vital role of KIT days in easing the transition back to work after maternity leave and the opportunity they pose when done right.

🫶🏼 With proactive preparation, KIT Days can be a valuable springboard back into work and re-engagement, making the transition much smoother.

💡 Here are some of the key recommendations

For Employers:
📍Offer managers training on supporting employees taking maternity leave
📍Clearly explain the KIT day policy, including financial compensation 
📍Ensure HR and payroll are informed about KIT days
📍Ask employees about preferred communication during leave

For Managers:
📍Confirm the employee’s building access and IT credentials for KIT days
📍Ensure colleagues are aware the employee will be working so they feel welcomed
📍Provide an orientation on changes that occurred during the leave
📍Accommodate the employee’s needs, like space to express breastmilk

For Mothers:
📍Discuss KIT day plans with your manager before leave
📍Communicate your preferred communication methods during leave
📍Understand your company’s KIT day financial policy
📍Be realistic about what you can accomplish on KIT days
📍Seek out supportive networks during leave

If you or your business would like to discuss how I can support you to improve the experience for working parents, please drop me a message.

This is my son Noah on his sports day this week vs the same day last year 🏃‍♂️ 🏆

What’s the significance of posting this on my Coaching account? Well as my very good friend told me this week, a lot has changed!

📆 July 2023 - I had resigned from my job that led me to burnout without another job to go to and was feeling pretty hopeless

📆 July 2024:

🙌🏼 I have been in my new job role 9 months now and am loving working with healthcare brands on defining their brand strategies

📚I have completed my Associate Coach Diploma with
✨I have started my coaching business and am truly passionate about supporting clients to navigate the parental juggle

🎗️I have become a trustee of the incredible charity.

I’m feeling hopeful again and am excited about what’s to come! 🙏

If things are feeling hard right now, know that they will get better!