aka: how I do everything except what I’m supposed to be doing
I had a full to-do list today. I was going to clean, write, finally call the insurance company about an accident that happened weeks ago… instead, I reorganized the spice cabinet. Why? I don’t know. Maybe it was urgent. Maybe it was a cry for help.
Welcome to motherhood — where you’re constantly busy, and yet somehow still procrastinating. How does that even work? I promise you, I ask myself the same thing daily while I’m aimlessly opening and closing apps like that’s part of my morning routine.

🧠 The Mental Load is Real (And It’s Not Just in Your Head)

One thing I’ve learned since becoming a mom is that I am not actually lazy — I’m overloaded. There is always something to do. Always. Even when I’m “resting,” my brain is running through 6 different tabs:

-Did I wash her bottles?
-Is she overstimulated or just dramatic?
-What time did I last eat? Did I eat?
-Do I even like chicken nuggets anymore?

This is what’s known as the mental load, and it’s a silent energy-drain that doesn’t get enough credit. Add in sleep deprivation, hormonal shifts, and the pressure to somehow be a “present, productive, Pinterest-worthy” mom — and yeah, of course I’m going to avoid stuff. My brain is fried.

🧺 What Procrastination Looks Like as a Mom

Motherhood procrastination isn’t like pre-baby procrastination. This isn’t lounging around and binge-watching Netflix all day. This is deep, productive-looking avoidance.
Here’s what that looks like for me:
-Cleaning the bathroom sink instead of replying to texts
-Deep diving into toddler clothes organization because I don’t want to deal with any socialization
-Folding laundry while also crying, because that somehow makes me feel “useful”

Some days I get stuck in a cycle of starting 10 things and finishing none of them. It’s not because I don’t care — it’s because I care too much and my brain short-circuits.
And sometimes? I’m just tired. That’s it. No poetic reason.

😵‍💫 Decision Fatigue is a Thing

Let’s get slightly scientific for a sec. There’s this concept called decision fatigue — it happens when you’ve made so many decisions in a day (what to feed your baby, what to wear, whether to let them eat that off the floor) that your brain just… quits. It’s like trying to run a marathon with no shoes. You physically can, but should you? No.
So by the time I sit down to do something for myself, like write or reflect or clean something important, I’m out of juice. I’m not lazy, I’m mentally maxed out.

😩 The Guilt Spiral
And oh, the guilt. Let’s talk about it.
Because when you do procrastinate as a mom, there’s always this little voice that says:
“You should be doing more.”

“Other moms have it together.”

“Why are you like this?”

The pressure to be the perfect mom is exhausting. And unrealistic. And honestly, kind of mean. Some days I’m just proud that I changed my underwear and fed myself something other than goldfish crackers. And I’ve decided… that’s enough.

🌿 What I’m Learning (Slowly… With Snacks)

I’m still figuring it out, but here’s what’s helped:

-Grace over guilt. I’m not a machine. I’m a human who grew and birthed a whole human..
-Mini habits. If a task feels huge, I just do one small part of it. Five minutes is better than nothing.
-Laughing at myself. Because sometimes I really do need to be humbled by the fact that I organized the sock drawer to avoid writing one email.
-Talking it out. Journaling, blogging, texting a fellow mom… anything that helps me feel less alone.

You’re Not Failing — You’re Fried

If you’re reading this while avoiding something else, same girl, same. But also — be kind to yourself. You’re doing the best you can with what you have, and sometimes the most productive thing you can do is rest.

So here’s a little mom-to-mom to-do list:
✅ Keep the baby alive
✅ Breathe
✅ Feed yourself something (even if it’s toast crusts)
✅ Be nice to yourself
✅ Maybe fold that one pile of laundry… or don’t


Thanks for being here — and for procrastinating with me. If nothing else, I hope this made you feel seen. Now go drink some water and pretend you’re starting that task you’ve been avoiding. That’s what I’m about to do. 💌