Podcast Episode 393: Overfunctioning and Over It: Why Doing More Isn’t Helping
So here’s the scene: You’re folding laundry, scheduling dentist appointments, picking up a birthday gift for your kid’s classmate (that you found out about this morning), and you just remembered it’s taco night… again. Meanwhile, your partner is marveling at how “on top of everything” you are. Cute, right? Except you’re two meltdowns and one caffeine crash away from losing it completely. I’ve been there. Heck, I’ve lived there. And if no one else has told you lately: just because you can do it all doesn’t mean you should. That’s the trap of overfunctioning.
The wild part? Most of us don’t even realize we’re doing it. We’re so used to jumping in, fixing the messes, smoothing things over, and picking up the slack that it feels like muscle memory. We tell ourselves we’re being helpful. That we’re just “showing love.” But listen, mama—doing everything isn’t helping your family, and it’s definitely not helping you. It’s exhausting. And when you’re always the safety net, nobody else learns to climb. Learning how to stop overfunctioning as a mom isn’t just about self-care—it’s about changing the entire dynamic at home.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “But if I stop, everything will fall apart!” Oh friend, I’ve said the same thing. But here’s the deal: your worth isn’t measured by your productivity, and your family is more capable than you think—if you give them the chance. If you’re ready to get some breathing room, keep listening. Because we’re diving into exactly how to stop overfunctioning as a mom without the whole house falling to pieces (spoiler: it won’t).
In this episode of the No Guilt Mom podcast you’ll learn:
- How to recognize when you’re overfunctioning
- Why we need to stop treating rest like a luxury
- What your emotional and time capacity are
- How to stop confusing being busy with being valuable
Resources We Shared In This Episode:
Want your family to pitch in without the nagging, yelling, or power struggles? Check out Family T.E.A.M.—our step-by-step course to turn household chaos into true teamwork.
Ready to ditch the chaos? Grab our FREE Stop Doing Checklist and start crossing things off your plate like a boss!
Wish managing your home felt a little more… magical? Grab our FREE 7 ChatGPT Prompts and watch meal planning and chore charts practically create themselves!
Feeling buried under an endless to-do list? Snag our FREE Home Responsibility Calculator and figure out exactly what to delegate—without the guilt
Holiday to-do list a mile long? Take off your project manager hat and grab our FREE Family Holiday Project Manager—it’s like having a personal assistant for all the festive chaos!
Snapped at your kid and instantly regretted it? Grab our FREE guide—3 Actions To Take After You Say Something You Regret—and reconnect in less than 17 seconds.
Want to keep the convo going? Come hang out with us in the FREE No Guilt Mom Podcast Community—real talk, support, and zero mom guilt.
Explore our No Guilt Mom Amazon Shop filled with juicy parenting reads and guest favorites!
Discover our Balance Community for Moms—a space to connect with your people, grow, and ditch the overwhelm together.
Subscribe to the No Guilt Mom YouTube channel for parenting tips, fun videos for kids, and behind-the-scenes podcast moments!
Love the show? Show it some love back by checking out our ah-maz-ing sponsors who help keep it all going—right here!
Access the full episode transcript HERE
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Brie Tucker
COO/ Podcast Producer at No Guilt Mom
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