82. Why more sleep isn’t fixing your exhaustion as a mum

What happens when you’re getting more sleep but still waking up completely exhausted?

After separation, moving house, working, parenting and months of pushing through without properly recovering, I reached a point where my body and brain began to feel like they had nothing left. I was sleeping, but I was still waking up groggy, foggy and physically depleted.

In this episode, I explore the difference between ordinary tiredness, rest and the deeper recovery many mums are missing.

We talk about:

• maternal exhaustion that doesn’t disappear after a few early nights

• brain fog, forgetfulness, heavy limbs and feeling as though you’re functioning behind glass

• why time away from your children often becomes time for housework and life admin

• the difference between briefly stopping and feeling genuinely replenished

• how mums can continue functioning while running almost entirely on empty

• why chronic depletion has become normalised as part of modern motherhood

• identifying the places, practices and experiences that actually restore you

Sleep matters, but motherhood can make uninterrupted recovery almost impossible. Even when you’re technically resting, part of you may remain responsible, alert and available to everyone else.

This is an honest reflection on reaching the edge of my own resilience and recognising that recovery cannot consist solely of occasional naps, coffee dates or tiny pockets of time between responsibilities. Mums need consistent space to replenish, not just enough energy to keep functioning.

Persistent or worsening exhaustion can also have physical or mental health causes. This episode shares my personal experience and isn’t a substitute for medical advice.

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