I Don’t Want to Do Anything—Am I Depressed or Have Mom Burnout?

Overwhelmed and Exhausted: Understanding the Struggle with Burnout and Depression in Everyday Life.

I remember last summer, I sat on the couch with a full basket of laundry at my feet… and just stared at it. I didn’t scroll my phone. I didn’t cry. I didn’t move. I just sat there, completely blank.

And the thought hit me: "Is this depression? Or am I just so tired I can't function anymore?"

If you’ve ever felt like this—like your body is heavy, your mind is foggy, and you can’t summon the energy to care—you’re not alone. And no, you’re not broken.

You might be burned out. Exhausted. Touched out. Or maybe you’re dealing with something deeper, like depression.

But how do you tell the difference when it all feels like too much?

Let’s talk about it.

First, You’re Not Lazy

Let’s just clear this up right away: If you’re constantly multitasking, caring for others, remembering everyone’s everything, and you finally hit a wall, that’s not laziness. That’s your body and brain waving a white flag.

Burnout vs. Exhaustion vs. Depression: What’s the Difference?

☕ Exhaustion

You’re mentally and physically drained, but if you do get rest, you feel a little better the next day. You’re still able to find joy in small moments, just not consistently.

Common signs:

• You feel "done" by 3pm

• You’re constantly overstimulated by noise, mess, or touch

• You want to do things… but you just need a break first

🔥 Burnout

This goes deeper than just needing a nap. Burnout is emotional depletion from chronic stress. You start to lose interest and motivation even for things you used to enjoy.

Common signs:

• You feel numb or detached from your life

• You dread simple tasks like unloading the dishwasher

• You find yourself zoning out or snapping easily

• You wake up already tired

🌧️ Depression

Depression isn’t just sadness, it’s a full-body shutdown. It affects your mood, energy, focus, and even physical health. And it doesn’t always look like crying in bed.

Common signs:

• You feel hopeless or empty for days or weeks at a time

• You no longer enjoy anything, even things that usually lift you

• You feel like a burden or like you're failing

• You withdraw, even from people you love

• You don’t care about things you used to

So… Which One Is It?

Sometimes, it’s all three. And that’s okay.

You can be tired, have mom burnout, and emotionally overwhelmed all at once. You can be functioning and still not be okay. Motherhood has a way of blurring the lines between survival mode and something more serious.

What You Can Do (Without Overhauling Your Life)

Here’s what helped me shift, even just a little:

• Name it. “I feel disconnected.” “I’m running on fumes.” Naming it doesn’t fix it, but it takes away the shame.

• Do the bare minimum with intention. Eat something. Drink water. Step outside. It’s not self-care fluff, it’s basic maintenance.

• Phone a friend. Even a quick voice note: “Hey, I’m in a fog and just needed to say that out loud.”

• Ask for help. From your partner, your mom, your therapist, your doctor. Asking for help is brave, not weak.

• Let go of perfect. Your home doesn’t need to be spotless. Your kids don’t need themed activities. You don’t need to be “on” all the time.

Final Thought: You’re Allowed to Feel This Way

This isn’t the part where I tell you to wake up earlier or make a gratitude list. This is the part where I tell you: You’re human. You’re doing the best you can. And if you’re feeling off, disconnected, or like you want to run away for a minute, that doesn’t make you a bad mom.

It makes you an overloaded one.

So if you don’t want to do anything today, start by doing one thing for you.

Even if it’s just pausing. Even if it’s just naming what you’re feeling.

You are not alone.